Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is just for when the person, a mum or a dad, just cannot afford to get a solicitor. It is the right thing to do because many people would go in and could be very nervous with a solicitor or barrister and they would feel a wee bit safer if they had someone beside them who they actually know. The other half would not have a problem with that because it normally would not be a family member, it would be someone who might have similar experience who is trying to help the person to get the issue sorted out. As I said earlier on, the most important thing is for the child to be sorted out. I know it is in a closed room but I just cannot understand how someone cannot take someone else in with them to help them along the way because there are a lot of nervous individuals who like to have someone accompanying them to help them along. To me, it does not seem fair.