Dr. Fergal Lynch:

The legislation will provide for a guardian ad litemto be provided in all cases other than where the court decides otherwise. The court could decide, for example, to discharge a guardian ad litemor it could decide that in a particular instance a guardian ad litemis not required. The court could no doubt hear a case from parents saying they do not believe one should be provided for. Given the guardian ad litemis directed towards the child and the child's needs, as opposed to the parents' needs, the court would no doubt take that into account.