Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I take Senator Seery Kearney's points. In the first instance, this legislation will necessitate significant engagement of the Judiciary, primarily because a significant panel of judges will be involved in moving people from wardship to the new DSS. This will take a significant amount of work. There has already been some engagement with the courts on preparing for this. It is not for the Executive to direct the Judiciary on issues of policy. The training of the Judiciary is a matter for the Judicial Council. There is an understanding that the Bill is significant in terms of bringing about the removal of an entire system from the Judiciary. The ward of court system has been entrenched in Irish and British courts since the Victorian era. There is an understanding that real change is needed.