Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 3 would require the District Court to appoint a guardian ad litemin all childcare proceedings and would enable the court to discharge that order where the child makes a request to that effect. Appointing a guardian ad litemin every childcare case before the District Court would create a substantial increase in the costs to the State. The amendment must, therefore, be ruled out of order as it would create a charge on the Revenue.

Amendment No. 4 is also out of order. It would require the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to provide or arrange for the provision of legal advice to guardians ad litemin every case before the District Court for which they are appointed. The provision of legal advice in every case before the District Court would create a significant increase in costs for the State so the amendment must be ruled out of order as it would create a charge on the Revenue. The amendment is also somewhat consequential to previous amendments.

Amendment No. 5 has also been ruled out of order as it would require the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to provide or arrange for the provision of legal advice to guardians ad litemin every case before the District Court for which they are appointed. The provision of legal advice in every case before the District Court would create a significant increase in costs for the State so the amendment must be ruled out of order as it would create a charge on the Revenue.