Search Legislation

Advanced Search

Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act (Northern Ireland) 2001

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally enacted).

Implementation of Convention

Regulations giving effect to Convention

1.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, regulations made by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (“the Department”) may make provision for giving effect to the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption, concluded at the Hague on 29th May 1993 (“the Convention”).

(2) The text of the Convention (so far as material) is set out in the Schedule.

(3) Regulations under this section may—

(a)apply, with or without modifications, any statutory provision relating to adoption;

(b)provide that any person who contravenes any provision of the regulations is to be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both; and

(c)make such incidental, supplementary, consequential or transitional provision as appears to the Department to be expedient.

(4) Regulations under this section shall be subject to negative resolution.

(5) Any power to make subordinate legislation under or for the purposes of any statutory provision relating to adoption includes power to do so with a view to giving effect to the provisions of the Convention.

Central Authority and accredited bodies

2.—(1) The functions under the Convention of the Central Authority shall be discharged in relation to Northern Ireland by the Department.

(2) A communication may be sent to the Central Authority in relation to Northern Ireland by sending it to the Central Authority in relation to England (for forwarding to the Central Authority in relation to Northern Ireland).

(3) A registered adoption society is an accredited body for the purposes of the Convention if its registration extends to the provision of facilities in respect of Convention adoptions and adoptions effected by Convention adoption orders.

(4) The functions under Article 9(a) to (c) of the Convention are to be discharged by Boards, HSS trusts and accredited bodies on behalf of the Central Authority.

(5) In this section “registered adoption society” has the same meaning as in the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (NI 22) (“the 1987 Order”); and expressions which are also used in that Order have the same meaning as in that Order.

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Show Explanatory Notes for Sections: Displays relevant parts of the explanatory notes interweaved within the legislation content.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the Northern Ireland Assembly department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes accompany all Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources