Time and time again this issue has been discussed over the years. PAC Report 2001/2002; PAC Report 2015; Justice & Equality Committee Report 2018 and underpinning everything, The Report by The National,Safeguarding Committee 2018.
There have been innumerable Parliamentary Questions on the issues and many, many emails and letters to Ministers, TDs and Senators - yet despite the power of the State it seems there is no willingness or ability to get to grips with the issues concerning Wards of Court - particularly those who have lost funds.
The Courts Service is producing 'independent reviews' that do not go anywhere near the issues. As they say - 'if you don't ask the right question, you won't get the right answer' - so an independent forensic examination of these funds is recommended and required urgently. Some Wards have been left penniless through negligence and mismanagement coupled with poor investment decisions. It doesn't matter to these vulnerable people who is responsible - they just want their money back. Is this too much to ask? Yes! Apparently it is. This has been tossed around like a hot potato, no one taking responsibility and no accountability. It was only in late 2017 that the Courts Service provided the State Street Global 'Fact Sheets' which state clearly that these funds are at risk. This is the only income these people have. The Wards of a Court system removes a person's autonomy and right to make decisions. It can also lose the funds held under the protection of the State on behalf of these people.
The people who are responsible for this state of affairs need to stand up and admit what happened and stop trying to undermine the families trying to help these people. This needs a Commission of Enquiry.
We are calling on our public representatives to do their job and deal with this.
Mary Farrell
Posted on 1 Jun 2018 9:53 pm
Time and time again this issue has been discussed over the years. PAC Report 2001/2002; PAC Report 2015; Justice & Equality Committee Report 2018 and underpinning everything, The Report by The National,Safeguarding Committee 2018.
There have been innumerable Parliamentary Questions on the issues and many, many emails and letters to Ministers, TDs and Senators - yet despite the power of the State it seems there is no willingness or ability to get to grips with the issues concerning Wards of Court - particularly those who have lost funds.
The Courts Service is producing 'independent reviews' that do not go anywhere near the issues. As they say - 'if you don't ask the right question, you won't get the right answer' - so an independent forensic examination of these funds is recommended and required urgently. Some Wards have been left penniless through negligence and mismanagement coupled with poor investment decisions. It doesn't matter to these vulnerable people who is responsible - they just want their money back. Is this too much to ask? Yes! Apparently it is. This has been tossed around like a hot potato, no one taking responsibility and no accountability. It was only in late 2017 that the Courts Service provided the State Street Global 'Fact Sheets' which state clearly that these funds are at risk. This is the only income these people have. The Wards of a Court system removes a person's autonomy and right to make decisions. It can also lose the funds held under the protection of the State on behalf of these people.
The people who are responsible for this state of affairs need to stand up and admit what happened and stop trying to undermine the families trying to help these people. This needs a Commission of Enquiry.
We are calling on our public representatives to do their job and deal with this.