Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has raised that point a couple of times. The primary objective and whole point of what we are doing is to change the situation, as described by the Deputy. The legislation will clearly define the role of the guardian ad litemand place the guardian ad litemon a statutory basis. It will establish an office to oversee that and a panel. This will put a whole new system in place so the situation to which Deputy Sherlock refers will no longer be the case. It will take some time to roll that out but we are trying to create law to change that situation. I do not know if I can accept the rationale that we need to have certain things provided for in law to help us deal with where we are now, as distinct from where we are going. I believe that answers the question the Deputy has raised.

The line, "A guardian ad litem appointed for a child is not a party to the proceedings", is used because it is our argument that the guardian ad litemhas no personal interest in the case and it is important for him or her to be an independent resource for the child, whatever his or her background identity.