Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the goodwill and welcome the setting up of a high level steering group. The Minister however would have to say that it is unacceptable if we have decided that this is not the way to go and we have passed the legislation that over 1,000 people have been made wards of court in that time. He might clarify when it is expected the Act will be in full operation. There will be a further transition period when all the existing wards of court transfer out of that system. It is unacceptable that there will be a further delay. Will it be a few years before the Act is fully operational? Will we have 2,000 or 3,000 further applications and decisions made to make people wards of court when it is entirely unnecessary and more importantly totally out of keeping with the Act in its spirit and in the letter of the law?

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