Vol. 497 No. 5
297 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the parts of section 11 of the Children Act, 1997, not yet in operation; the reason for not bringing into operation the new proposed section 28 of the Guardianship of Infants Act, 1964, which makes provision for the appointment of a person as a guardian ad litem of a child where the court deems this appointment appropriate in proceedings brought under the Guardianship of Infants Act, 1964. [25671/98]
Section 11 of the Children Act, 1997 inserts 12 new sections into the Guardianship of Infants Act, 1964, two of which, that is sections 26 — social reports in the District Court — and 28 — appointment of guardian ad litem for a child and provision for separate representation — remain to be brought into operation by ministerial order. Those two sections have financial and staffing implications for the Probation and Welfare Service and health boards and they will be brought into operation as soon as the necessary staff can be made available.
