At the outset, I would like to say I worked for the northern area health board, the HSE and Tusla. I worked in the same place but obviously changed over into different organisations over those 20 years when the responsibilities changed. I worked as a family support worker and later as a child and family support network co-ordinator. I commend so many people. I know it is really difficult work. I commend the social workers, the family support workers and the care workers. The social care workers in Tusla do an absolutely phenomenal job and those in the organisations that are around it and are supported by it. I want to talk specifically about guardians ad litem, GALs. I have only a limited amount of time, so I am going to try to get through this as quickly as I can. Just to read from their comments, the most concerning issues that arise from the response being provided is the ongoing insistence that the guardians independence will not be affected, alongside the sentence referring to ensuring legal representation for guardians ad litem where necessary. The decision as to whether it is necessary for a child to have legal representation through the GAL rests with the State. The State has so often had to make apologies to children for not hearing their voices. It was also stated this will be a massive step backwards. Here is an example. To take a hypothetical situation, Tusla and the parents will automatically have access to all the reports about the child’s legal representation, attend all court dates, challenge evidence, procure reports and assessments, bring contacts or applications to seek directions under the Child Care Act and to appeal any decision of the court that is of concern to them. In the current independent system, guardians ad litem can do all of these things on behalf of the child and are fully legally represented in court. There is currently no waiting list for guardians ad litem and legal services are immediately engaged without any delay. In stark contrast, from the commencement of the new guardian ad litem service, guardians will only be able to ask the national service, which will come under the remit of the Minister, Deputy Foley, for permission to do any of these things. There will be a process, which has yet to be confirmed, that guardians will have to go through to get legal representation. Guardians ad litem are concerned about this logic. The State now sees them as only necessary in circumstances where the parents and Tusla are not engaged. The role of guardians ad litem is not to prop up the case for the State or the parents, but to be an independent representative voice in the best interests of the child. It is their opinion that their right to representation should never depend on the level of engagement of parents or their consent and that it should be possible to realise this right for all children. Some 92 guardians ad litem, highly skilled and experienced professionals who have serious concerns about the proposed new guardian ad litem service for children in Ireland, are reluctant to enter this new service. These concerns have repeatedly been raised directly with the new service but there has been a lack of meaningful engagement. That lack of engagement with guardians ad litem is really concerning. Over the last couple of days, we have heard repeatedly that the Minister has refused, or has not been able, to meet these guardians.

Sentiment score: 0.21

It is really important that we sit down with the people who are directly involved and engaged in providing those supports. As I have said, I have met many guardians ad litem over the 20 years I worked with them. They are incredible people who work really hard.

Sentiment score: 0.19