New MP George Scott used his maiden speech to stand up for the rights of downtrodden fathers.

He called upon the Health Minister to set up a custody and access assessment service attached to the courts.

He said they are used in America and were trusted by the courts and public alike.

The service would reduce perjury and obstruction of justice and lead to quick resolutions said Mr. Scott.

He called for an end to the gender war which denied relatives access to children they loved.

"Our community has long supported offensive and erroneous information that demonises men and conceals the fact that we have women that can be equally if not more violent than men, a distortion that has cost many men and their families.

"Abuse is not a male-related problem it is a human-related problem."

He said women attacked their partners and cheated on them as much as men do.

"Our social services seem exclusively concerned with abusive behaviour by fathers."

He said legislation gave mothers more rights than fathers and that men accused of abuse had the feeling they had no rights.

Social workers became the judge, jury and the decision maker in relationships between parents and children, said Mr. Scott.

"Their analysis of the facts of cases, demonstrate a form of tunnel vision which does not reflect well on the social services department and its reputation."

He said fear of domestic violence had led Government, Police and other bodies to only worry about female victims.

"Men do not receive such support when they claim to be assaulted by their female partners or harassed in abrogation of no-contact orders.

"I am at a loss as to what to tell men who are constantly telephoned by female partners who repeatedly breach child access orders.

"When women breach these orders nothing is done, in contrast to when men breach them."

The system allowed claims to be made with no substantiating evidence and gave little right for a defence said Mr. Scott.

He said women were given exclusive opportunities to make false allegations without penalties. "This is especially true at the onset of divorce proceedings and through ongoing child access problems when men are most vulnerable to these allegations."