Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I believe a compulsory GAL would be very dangerous territory. It would be appointing a GAL for every child for the sake of appointing one, because there are numerous cases where it is not necessary to have a GAL. There has to be a level in that regard. This is all about giving effect to the voice of the child. There is one issue that often confuses me. In court cases involving a child in care, the person who knows the child best, arguably, is the care giver, who is the foster carer. Let us say that it is four years later and the court case comes up again to review the child's care order and whether it continues. There is no means for the care giver to contribute. Given that this legislation is about giving effect to the voice of the child, have you given any consideration to allowing that for a care giver? I have not come across where it occurs.