Announcement of progress on establishment of GAL National Service
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From: Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Published on: 4 October 2023
- Last updated on: 16 October 2023
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, is pleased to welcome Mr Anthony Douglas CBE to work with the department to progress preparations for the planned guardian ad litem (GAL) national service. The work to be undertaken by Mr Douglas is an important step in fulfilling the government’s commitment to strengthening the voice of the child in court proceedings.
Ensuring a priority emphasis on the child’s rights and best interests in child care proceedings is a long-standing government commitment. Reform of the current model of GAL provision is intended to provide for universal access to a GAL for all children involved in child care court proceedings.
Mr Douglas is the former Chief Executive of Cafcass, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, which represents children in family court cases in England. He was awarded a CBE in 2008 for his work in family justice and adoption.
Welcoming Mr Douglas to the role, Minister Roderic O’Gorman said:
“I am delighted to welcome Mr Douglas to work with my department. He is highly regarded in his field and brings a wealth of relevant experience to this project. I have no doubt that his contributions will be of great benefit to ensuring a future guardian ad litem office of the highest quality. Ireland has led the way in ensuring the voice of children is brought to decisions relevant to their lives across many spheres of public and private life. Children finding themselves in the child care court system will be guaranteed their voice is heard and that is only right and proper.”
Anthony Douglas added:
“I am very pleased to be working with the department on this project. GALs play a pivotal role in making sure each child in care has the best possible chance of the best possible future. I will work collaboratively and inclusively with all stakeholders to ensure that I can help to create the conditions of future success for the new service.”
Notes
Guardians ad litem (GALs) enhance the decision-making capacity of the court in child care proceedings by advising on a child’s best interests and conveying the views of the child to the court.
The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022, which provides for reform of the GAL system, enables the Minister to establish a new national GAL service.
When commenced, this Act will regulate and extend the GAL system, creating a presumption in favour of appointment of a GAL in child care proceedings before the District Court and mandatory appointment in special care cases before the High Court. It will ensure the best interests of children and young people in child care proceedings are met by ensuring that their voices are heard.