Joe Higgins
Ceist:347 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has received correspondence regarding the family law case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [10707/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 6 April 2004
Ceisteanna (256, 257)
Joe Higgins
Ceist:349 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, following assurances given by his Department to a person (details supplied) in County Cork that a care worker would ascertain their child’s well-being in England, this was ever carried out. [10709/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 347 and 349 together.
The central authority for child abduction operates in my Department for the purposes of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the European Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions Concerning Custody of Children and on Restoration of Custody of Children. Both these conventions contain provisions pertaining to access and apply to children under the age of 16.
The central authority and the person referred to by the Deputy have been in correspondence with each other. I assure the Deputy, however, that no assurance of the kind mentioned in the question was given by the central authority, nor could such assurance be given since it is a matter for the relevant UK authorities alone.
In response to correspondence from the person referred to by the Deputy, the central authority sought further information from that person to make it possible for the central authority to transmit an application to make arrangements for the exercise of rights of access under Article 21 of the Hague Convention. The central authority is ready to offer what assistance it can once that information is received.