Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. Reform is long overdue and has to be welcomed. The issue has been going on for a long time. An especially important element is the law covering the guardian ad litemsystem, which is long overdue for reform. In the last Dáil, we saw the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2019, addressing guardians ad litem, which sought to address these inadequacies but fell with the dissolution of the Dáil in January 2020, which was unfortunate. With this Bill, we will see the much-needed reform of the existing ad hocGAL arrangements for children who are the subject of public law childcare proceedings. The Bill will amend legislation to ensure that the GAL informs the court of the views of the child, where the child is capable of and willing to express his or her own views. The GAL makes recommendations to the court about what is in the child's best interests after considering the child's views. The Bill provides for mandatory appointment of GALs in all special care proceedings.

This Bill will amend section 26 and insert a new part into the 1991 Act. Overall, I welcome and support this Bill, but I would like to see aspects of it strengthened. I would like to see more to ensure the role of the GAL as an advocate and representative is fully recognised in the eyes of the court. I am concerned that access could be watered down by this Bill. At present, the GAL is entitled to the full Tusla file. These points aside, Sinn Féin will support the Bill and will table a number of amendments on Committee Stage to help to strengthen the Bill.

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