Ms Karla Charles:

I will not repeat what Mr. Dignan has said. I will deal with the structures at which the Courts Service of Ireland is looking. The service took submissions last year or possibly the previous year regarding structures and ways of making a court setting more child-friendly. That is in motion and we are involved in that process separately. This is something we can discuss at another stage. It is an intimidating process that can be much improved.

I will not repeat what Mr. Dignan said about the advocate versus the guardian ad litem. I would add that it is the current right of every child in care to be made aware of our service but it is a voluntary involvement on the part of child and involves requesting an advocate. An advocate would never be appointed where a child did not want one. In respect of the ability of an advocate versus a guardian ad litem, sometimes there may be a need for both while at other times there may only be a need for an advocate. It is very much case dependent. It should be part of the remit of the independent body to look from a cost perspective and in conjunction with the child at the best way to represent that child in court proceedings.