Child and Family Agency (formerly Health Service Executive) v O.A. [2015] IESC 52, also known as Child and Family Agency (Tusla) v OA, is a reported Irish Supreme Court case decision. It was decided that parents should not get an order for costs in the District Court unless there are specific elements in the case at hand. The Supreme Court set up these specific points and ruled that the Circuit Court should only overturn District Court decisions if they do not follow the principles and criteria set out. Background History The case was first heard in the District Court, but the Health Service Executive (HSE), which was the legal predecessor to the Child and Family Agency (CFA or Tusla), took it to the High Court because it wanted to award costs. The HSE lost in the High Court, so the case went to the Supreme Court. The case was heard again in the District Court, and costs were given. The appeal was dropped. The Circuit Court questioned this order, and Section 16 of the Courts of Justice Act of 1947. It was then sent to the Supreme Court to be decided. Context of the case The CFA filed the appeal. The respondent was a mother of four, whose name was referred to in the case as O.A. In April 2011, the HSE looked into claims that O.A. had physically abused her daughter, A.A., who had moved in with a third party. The HSE asked for an emergency care order, which was granted, and O.A. hired a private solicitor. The HSE had not yet asked for a full care order in November 2011. By that time, the situation at O.A.'s home had "radically changed" because A.A. had returned and dropped all charges. On November 28, the HSE asked for a supervision order, which was eventually granted, despite O.A.'s objections, because the emergency care order had ended. This supervision order ran out on March 5, 2012. But on April 25, 2012, the HSE tried again to get a supervision order, saying that O.A.'s other three children were being left alone at home. This order was also granted. Application for costs Still, O.A.'s lawyer asked for costs, saying that O.A. had won several applications. O.A. qualified for legal aid, and the HSE argued that the District Court did not have the capacity to grant costs in this situation. They then went to the