Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----which is precisely what I am doing. It is clear that the system should have been reformed during the past 12 years. Like so many issues I am dealing with, I now have to introduce reform, examine the situation and make sure that every guardian ad litem who is appointed is vetted and that appropriate rates are paid. That is precisely what I am doing. The courts appoint individuals and Garda vetting is undertaken on behalf of organisations rather than at the request of private individuals. GALs may rely on Garda vetting done for them in other settings.

GALs are appointed by the courts and the courts decide on the person they appoint in particular circumstances. As regards the fees, I have already said that a change in fees must be part of the reform. I emphasise that in the reforms I am introducing, the key aim is to ensure that we have a functioning guardian ad litem system because it is an extremely important service for young children before the courts. In the legislation I introduced last year on interim care orders I ensured that the cost of guardians ad litem was reduced because they did not have to return to the courts frequently. I introduced legislation to ensure that it could be up to 28 days instead of having to go to court every week.

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