Bill alarms children’s rights expert

A CHILDREN’S legal rights expert has expressed alarm at proposed changes to the way the HSE funds representation for vulnerable children in the courts.

Freda McKittrick said the Child Care (Amendment) Bill threatened the Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) service, designed to give a child a voice in court proceedings. The HSE currently pays any costs incurred by the service but, under the proposed amendments, the HSE will only have to pay costs it deems are “reasonably” incurred.

Ms McKittrick, Guardian Ad Litem for Barnardos, said this could compromise the independence of the service. “It may cause difficulties where the GAL is in direct conflict with the HSE. This is not in the child’s best interest.”