merrion street

• · 320 applications dealt with by Irish Central Authority for Child Abduction in 2015 with 161 of these being new applications 
• · Minister welcomes that there has been some decline in the number of child abduction applications, but there is still a need to have a proactive response to what is a growing global problem.

An Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Justice and Equality, has today released the 2015 figures on applications dealt with in her Department in its role as the Irish Central Authority for International Child Abduction. These applications relate primarily to parental child abductions but also include applications relating to the care of children across jurisdictions, requests for social reports and access to children.

The Tánaiste stated: “I very much welcome that there was some decline in the number of new applications relating to child abduction in 2015. But it is important that we continue to work proactively with other Central Authorities around the world in dealing with this matter and in facilitating the resolution of international parental child abductions where they arise.”

Key figures from the statistics published today include:
· A total of 320 applications were dealt with by the Central Authority for International Child Abduction in 2015.
· 161 of these were new applications, 159 ongoing cases.
· Of the 161 new cases, 96 concerned applications into the State (incoming) from other countries while 65 concerned applications from the State (outgoing) to other countries.
· Of the cases still active from before 2015, 81 were incoming and 78 were outgoing.
· In line with previous years the majority (39%) of new applications dealt with in 2015 related to the three UK Authorities (England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.)
· Of the applications received in 2015, 56%(90 applications) related to child abduction into or out of Ireland and the remaining applications related to other types of applications including - international child placements - 19%, access applications – (6%) and social reports (19%).

Note to Editors:

The Irish Central Authority was established on foot of the Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991. This Act gave the force of law in Ireland to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the 1980 Hague Convention). The purpose of this Convention is to facilitate the return of children who have been taken from one contracting state to another against the wishes of a parent. In addition, there is provision for a custody or access order granted in one contracting state to be recognised or enforced in another contracting state. The Central Authority also operates under Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility (Brussels IIa) and the 1996 Hague Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (the 1996 Hague Convention). This Regulation and the 1996 Hague Convention enhance the provisions of the 1980 Hague Convention.