Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are working with the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, on this issue in order that it will form part of some legislation which he is introducing this year. It has been in place for a long period and needs to be reformed. We will reform it. For example, Barnardos has a very effective guardian at litemsystem which it provides to the courts. Clearly the scheme was set up without any clarity on the criteria for either professional qualifications or fees. It is much too open. We need to examine precisely when guardian at litemis used.

We need to be very clear about how it should develop. My Department has been working on that with officials from the Department of Justice and Equality and we will bring forward recommendations on how to change it. It has been in place since 1991, under the Child Care Act 1991, and will certainly be done this year.