Dr. Fergal Lynch:

There are essentially two systems: public law and private law systems. In the public law system, guardian ad litemis applied. In the private law system, however, the cases are of a different type and generally involve custody, access and so on, and there is no provision in the legislation for guardians ad litemto be appointed. There is, however, provision in the Children and Family Relationships Act to appoint what I think are described as child views experts. They are appointed, in a not dissimilar manner to the idea of a guardian ad litemin a public system, to listen to the views of the child.