14.—(1) Section 14 shall be amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), for the words from “in the prescribed manner” to the end there shall be substituted the following words—
“by the prescribed officer of the court—
in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, to the Lord Chancellor, or
in Scotland, to the Secretary of State,
for transmission to the responsible authority in the Republic of Ireland.”.
(3) For subsection (5) there shall be substituted—
“(5) A court in—
(a)England and Wales or Northern Ireland may for the purpose of any proceedings in that court under this Part of this Act relating to a maintenance order to which this Part of this Act applies, send to the Lord Chancellor, or
(b)Scotland may for the purpose of such proceedings in that court relating to such an action, send to the Secretary of State,
for transmission to the responsible authority in the Republic of Ireland a request for a court in the Republic of Ireland to take or provide evidence relating to such matters as may be specified in the request.”.