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

I thank the Deputies for their questions.

In terms of the questions with regard to the guardian ad litem, as Deputies would be aware and while I am deeply respectful of the issues that they have put forward here, the guardian ad litemapplies to child care proceedings generally but not to adoption. These issues will be addressed in separate legislation. Heads of a Bill on guardian ad litemreform will be published prior to the end of this session and the issues, some of which the Deputies identified here and perhaps raised in other amendments that they put forward in terms of our discussions of this Bill, will be dealt with in those heads.

In terms of Deputy Jan O'Sullivan's question with regard to the appropriate persons, the regulations may prescribe as appropriate persons a class or classes of persons who, in the Minister's opinion, having regard to the functions to be performed by members of such classes, are suitable to be appropriate or who, in the Minister's opinion, have the considered qualifications, training and expertise of such class or classes of persons.

I believe that is specific enough with regard to the judgment of a Minister in terms of the knowledge that is required for the adoption proceedings as they go forward, be it in the courts or with the Adoption Authority.

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