Accessibility Features
Accessibility | Skip to Start of Article | Skip to Search | Skip to Navigation Menu | Skip to Themes | Skip to Regions | Skip to Members Sign InAccessibility Features
Accessibility | Skip to Start of Article | Skip to Search | Skip to Navigation Menu | Skip to Themes | Skip to Regions | Skip to Members Sign In
Children in Northern Ireland welcomes this opportunity to respond to the Report of the Separate Representation Sub-Group of COAC. Children in Northern Ireland is represented on the Sub-Group by the Children’s Law Centre.
Children in Northern Ireland
18 Jul 2006
Free
CiNI responded to 8 questions below. To read the responses and view the full briefing document, click the link below.
1. Should children in private law proceedings have the same automatic party status afforded to children who are the subject of public law applications?
2. Do you agree with the view of the committee that there is no legal obligation or other imperative placed upon this jurisdiction to provide separate representation for every child who is the subject of private law proceedings under the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995?
3. What criteria, if any, should the court apply to the determination of an application for separate representation of a child in private law proceedings?
4. Please specify your preferred type of representation for children in private law proceedings?
a. Representation by a social worker
b. Tandem representation by a social worker (e.g. a guardian ad litem) and a lawyer
c. Other form of representation (please specify below)
5. Do you agree with the committee’s recommendation that the dedicated Court Welfare Officer scheme should be extended to all Family Proceedings Courts?
6. Do you accept the Committee’s suggestion that it would be beneficial to have a protocol defining the remit of Court Welfare Officers and describing their powers and duties?
7. How should the provision of representation for children in private law proceedings be funded?
8. Please identify any suggestions you have about how the views of children and their parents about the issue of separate representation can be ascertained?
COAC Seperate Representation Report (.pdf, 58KB)Footer
NICVA | 61 Duncairn Gardens | Belfast | BT15 2GB
Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action is registered as a company limited by guarantee in Northern Ireland (No 1792) and is registered as a charity for tax purposes with the Inland Revenue