Vol. 471 No. 3
10 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he has examined the possibility of producing an information pack in relation to transnational child abduction; if so, the way in which such information will be disseminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20621/96]
I assume the Deputy is referring to the role which my Department has as central authority for the purposes of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the Council of Europe Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Child Custody Orders.
I am aware of recent publicity in the media about a submission made to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Women's Rights that an information pack should be made available to members of the public and organisations who wish to know more about the subject of child abduction.
There are some initiatives which are already under way in my Department in this area. First, information on the services which are available under the aegis of my Department or services which are funded by my Department is being reviewed with a view to being updated and broadened, as necessary. Information on the Central Authority for Child Abduction is part of that review. Second, I should like to mention that operation of the Hague Convention is due to be reviewed in the early part of 1997 under the aegis of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. By way of preparation for that review, I arranged some few weeks ago for the views of various interest groups to be sought on their experience of the operation of the Convention to date. In considering what further can and needs to be done in relation to the subject of child abduction I shall be taking into account the experience in other jurisdictions as well as representations which are made to me as Minister with responsibility for the civil law in this area.
