Ms Naomi Kennan:

I wish to pick up on what the Deputy said. Our view fits into the adaption of the broader system in the sense that all professionals working with children should be specialised and trained in children's rights. In particular, this means a knowledge of children's rights and the legal context within which they are working. It also means knowledge of areas such as child development, skills-based training in communicating with children of different ages and maturity as well as listening to children.

Reference was made to in-depth legal training. We need to maintain the focus on the fact that guardians ad litemare not acting as lawyers when they are in the court. They are not acting as social workers either. We are keen for this to be recognised as an individual specialised profession and for those involved to receive training to be guardians at litem. Part of this involves understanding the legal context within which they are working.

We need to see a broader adaption of the judicial system. The need for this is recognised internationally and within Ireland. Yesterday, Freda McKittrick from Barnardos called on all stakeholders to establish an expert group to look at how all judicial proceedings in which children are involved could be made more child-centred, in particular to ensure the views of children are heard. That is something we really need to look at. We need specialised courtrooms and professionals as well as a general adaption of procedures and practices and a recognition that this is necessary to ensure they are not intimidating or excluding children, whether in practice or reality.