Four solicitor vacancies in GAL national service
Members of the newly established guardian ad litem (GAL) national service have been named by the Government.
Joy McGlynn, Pat Bergin, and Gareth Clifford will lead the professional body which has been designed to ensure that children’s voices and best interests are independently represented in court during child care proceedings.
There are currently four solicitor vacancies within the national service.
The competition for these roles closes on 18 March on publicjobs.ie.
McGlynn is experienced in child protection, former service director at Tusla and a CORU-registered social worker.
Pat Bergin is former head of the National Forensic Mental Health Service, and director of Oberstown Children Detention Campus.
Gareth Clifford is a chartered physiotherapist and expert in digital modernisation and change management.
Framework
The executive office is responsible for the national framework, including:
- Defining professional qualifications and standards for GALs,
- Quality assurance – managing recruitment, training, and compliance,
- The service will feature four regional managers and dedicated regional offices where guardians will be based.
The service has moved through several phases to reach its 2026 operational status:
- 2022: Act signed into law,
- 2023: Appointment of Anthony Douglas CBE as advisor,
- 2025: Executive office established and director and head GAL appointed,
- 2026: Budgetary allocation confirmed and operational commencement underway.