Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

If what the Minister says is the case, and this happens anyway, why not incorporate into the legislation what, in effect, will be a statutory guarantee for the provision of the guardian ad litem? There are some cases where, to my mind, it does not happen. I want a statutory guarantee that there will be the provision of a guardian and that such a provision is necessary to protect the best interests of the child. That is the net point. The Minister of State claims it happens anyway. If that is the case, why not incorporate it?

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