Absent fathers are compelled by law to support their children

AS a so-called absent father, I was disappointed to read your report headlined ‘State must make absent fathers pay, says SVP’ (December 27), as it contained a number of gender-biased assumptions that are unsubstantiated by the UCD study of young single mothers to which you refer.

Absent fathers are compelled by law to support their children

Your headline is misleading as the State already requires fathers who are not living with the mothers of their children to pay maintenance for the children’s upkeep.

If a father does not pay such maintenance, the State ensures he does so through the courts and it will provide legal aid to any mother who cannot afford her own legal representation.

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