Guardians Ad Litem
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-19
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Norma Foley (FF), Kerry

I absolutely accept that this is being raised in a genuine way. I 100% accept the Deputy's bona fides and the bona fides of the GALs and everybody else. At the end of the day, everybody wants the best outcome for the child. I have no difficulty with the concerns and the issues being raised. I 100% accept that. The Deputy has made the point that, heretofore, the practice has been that when a GAL required legal representation, they always got it. That is not changing. When a GAL needs representation, in the first instance, they are an expert witness. If that changes, they need to bring an application where legal representation will be required, and legal representation will be provided for. If there is a particularly complex issue or whatever arising, and if the court or the GAL believes that the complexity requires legal representation, that will be provided for. We cannot conflate the issue that they are first and foremost expert witnesses. If there is a change in circumstance and legal representation is required, that will be provided for.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:40+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-19