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Uimhir 2 de 1964.
AN tACHT UCHTÁLA, 1964
[An tiontú oifigiúil].
Mínithe.
1.—San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “ordú uchtála” ordú faoi alt 9 den Phríomh-Acht;
ciallaíonn “an Bord” an Bord Uchtála;
ciallaíonn “an Príomh-Acht” an tAcht Uchtála, 1952;
ciallaíonn “cumann uchtála cláraithe” comhlacht daoine atá taifeadta sa Chlár de Chumainn Uchtála a choimeádann an Bord faoi Chuid IV den Phríomh-Acht.
Leanbh dlisteanaithe a uchtáil.
2.—(1) (a) D'ainneoin aon ní atá in alt 10 den Phríomh-Acht, féadfar ordú uchtála a dhéanamh i gcás linbh—
(i) a dlisteanaíodh nó ar aithníodh a dhlisteanú de bhun forálacha an Achta Dlisteanais, 1931, agus
(ii) nach ndearnadh a bhreith a athchlárú de bhun forálacha an Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht sin ná de bhun dlí aon tíre seachas an Stát,
ar choinníoll go dtabharfaidh athair an linbh a thoiliú leis an ordú uchtála a dhéanamh nó go ligfear thar ceal an toiliú sin de réir Alt 14 den Phríomh-Acht.
(b) Beidh feidhm ag forálacha fho-ailt (2) go (6) d'alt 14 den Phríomh-Acht maidir le toiliú dá dtagraítear sa mhír sin roimhe seo mar atá feidhm acu maidir leis an toilithe dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt sin.
(2) Chun críocha na bhforálacha sin roimhe seo den alt seo, forléireofar aon tagairt do mháthair linbh in ailt 16, 17, 20, 24 agus 39 den Phríomh-Acht mar thagairt a fholaíonn tagairt d'athair na linbh.
(3) I gcás—
(a) leanbh a bheith neamhdhlistineach nuair a thug an mháthair a toiliú le hordú uchtála a dhéanamh nó, i gcás inar lig an Bord an toiliú sin thar ceal ar an bhforas nár bhféidir teacht ar an máthair, nuair a saolaíodh an leanbh, agus
(b) nár tugadh aon fhianaise ar aird don Bhord, trí agóid a dhéanamh in aghaidh an iarratais ar uchtáil, nó ar shlí eile, gur dlisteanaíodh an leanbh dá éis sin,
féadfaidh an Bord a mheas, chun críocha an Phríomh-Achta agus an Achta seo, go bhfuil an leanbh neamhdhlistineach tráth an iarratais a éisteacht, agus má dhéanann an Bord ordú uchtála agus gur dlisteanaíodh an leanbh iarbhír, beidh an bhailíocht chéanna ag an ordú a bheadh aige dá mba rud é nár dlisteanaíodh an leanbh agus déanfar an tagairt in alt 39 den Phríomh-Acht don mháthair mar a fhorléiriú mar thagairt a fholaíonn tagairt don athair.
(4) Má tharla, roimh dháta an Achta seo a rith, go ndearnadh ordú uchtála i leith linbh dhlisteanaithe (is leanbh nárbh fheasach don Bhord é bheith dlisteanaithe), beidh, agus measfar go raibh riamh, ag an ordú an bhailíocht chéanna a bheadh aige dá mba rud é nár dlisteanaíodh an leanbh, agus déanfar an tagairt in alt 24 den Phríomh-Acht don mháthair a fhorléiriú mar thagairt a fholaíonn tagairt don athair.
Síneadh in imthoscaí áirithe ar an am chun ordú uchtála a iarraidh.
3.—(1) D'ainneoin aon ní atá in alt 10 den Phríomh-Acht, más deimhin leis an mBord gurb inmhianaithe, in imthoscaí speisialta an cháis sin a dhéanamh, féadfaidh sé ordú uchtála a dhéanamh i leith leanbh a bhí os cionn seacht mbliana d'aois ar dháta an iarratais ag iarraidh an ordaithe más rud é—
(a) (i) go raibh an leanbh faoina chúram ag an iarratasóir ó dháta roimh an dáta a shlánaigh an leanbh seacht mbliana d'aois, agus
(ii) go ndéanfar an t-iarratas sula mbeidh naoi mbliana d'aois slán ag an leanbh, nó
(b) gurb í máthair nó gurb é athair nádúrtha an linbh, nó gur gaol don leanbh, an t-iarratasóir nó duine de na hiarratasóirí más lánúin phósta iad.
(2) Sula gcinnfidh an Bord an ndéanfaidh sé ordú uchtála maidir le leanbh lena mbaineann an t-alt seo, tabharfaidh an Bord aird chuí ar mhianta an linbh, ag féachaint d'aois agus do thuiscint an linbh:
(3) Ní bheidh feidhm ag fomhír (ii) de mhír (a) d'fho-alt (1) den alt seo maidir le hiarratas ar ordú uchtála a dhéanfar roimh an 31ú lá de Nollaig, 1965.
Leasú ar alt 3 den Phríomh-Acht.
4.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 3 den Phríomh-Acht tríd an míniú seo a leanas: “ciallaíonn ‘duine uchtaithe’ duine a bhfuil ordú uchtála déanta ina leith;” a chur isteach roimh an míniú ar “ordú uchtála”.
Leasú ar alt 11 den Príomh-Acht.
5.—(1) D'ainneoin aon ní atá i bhfo-alt (3) d'alt 11 den Phríomh-Acht, féadar ordú uchtála a dhéanamh ar iarratas ó lanúin phósta atá pósta ar a chéile trí bliana ar a laghad agus a bhfuil cúig bliana is fiche d'aois slán ag gach duine acu.
(2) Leasaítear leis seo alt 11 den Phríomh-Acht tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (4):
“(4) Ní dhéanfar ordú uchtála murar sa Stát atá gnáthchónaí ar na hiarratasóirí agus gur sa Stát a bhí gnáthchónaí orthu i gcaitheamh na bliana dar críoch dáta an ordaithe.”
(3) Leasaítear leis seo alt 11 den Phríomh-Acht trí fho-alt (5) a scriosadh.
Leasú ar alt 12 den Phríomh-Acht.
6.—Forléireofar alt 12 den Phríomh-Acht agus beidh éifeacht aige ionann is dá mbeadh Arm an tSlánaithe ar cheann de na haicmí creidimh a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (3) den alt sin.
Leasú ar alt 22 den Príomh-Acht.
7.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 22 den Phríomh-Acht tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fo-alt (3):
“(2) Mura feasach dáta breithe an linbh, cinnfidh an Bord an dáta is dócha a rugadh an leanbh agus taifeadfar an dáta sin mar dháta breithe an linbh agus má fhionnann an Bord, dá éis sin, an dáta iarbhír a rugadh an leanbh, cealófar an cinneadh agus leasófar dá réir an t-ordú uchtála a bhaineann leis an leanbh agus murab é an dáta a rugadh an leanbh an dáta a cinneadh mar a dúradh, leasófar an taifead.”
Orduithe idirlinne.
8.—Más rud é, ar iarratas a dhéanamh ar ordú uchtála i leith linbh, nach mbeidh an Bord deimhnitheach i dtaobh na n-ábhar dá dtagraítear in alt 13 den Phríomh-Acht, féadfaidh sé ordú a dhéanamh faoi alt 17 den Phríomh-Acht ag tabhairt coimeád an linbh don iarratasóir ar feadh tréimhse promhaidh más é tuairim an Bhoird gur dócha don Bhord a bheith deimhnitheach, roimh dheireadh na tréimhse sin, i dtaobh na n-ábhar dá dtagraítear san alt sin 17.
Iarratais ar orduithe uchtála a chur ar atráth.
9.—D'fhonn amhras a sheachaint, dearbhaítear leis seo go bhfuil, agus go raibh riamh, ag an mBord, i gcás iarratas ar ordú uchtála a dhéanamh chun an Bhoird, cumhacht chun déanamh cinneadh aige an t-ordú a dhéanamh nó diúltú an t-ordú a dhéanamh a chur ar atráth ó am go ham.
Srian le halt 2 d'Acht na Leanaí (Leasú) 1957.
10.—(1) Faoi réir fhorálacha an ailt seo, ní bhainfidh alt 2 d'Acht na Leanaí (Leasú), 1957, le duine a ghlacfaidh de láimh banaltrú agus cothabháil linbh ná le déanamh socruithe i gcóir an bhanaltraithe agus na cothabhála sin más rud é—
(a) (i) go nglacfar de láimh an banaltrú agus an chothabháil d'fhonn an leanbh a uchtáil ag an duine réamhráite, gur cumann uchtála cláraithe a dhéanfaidh na socruithe le haghaidh an bhanaltraithe agus na cothabhála, agus nach mbeidh thar bhliain caite ón dáta a glacadh an leanbh isteach i mbaile an duine, agus
(ii) go dtabharfar fógra i scríbhinn i dtaobh na socruithe don Bhord roimh sheacht lá nó laistigh de sheacht lá tar éis an leanbh a ghlacadh isteach i mbaile an duine réamhráite, nó
(b) go mbeidh iarratas ar ordú uchtála déanta i leith an linbh agus nach mbeidh diúltaithe don iarratas, nó
(c) go mbeidh deimhniú faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo i bhfeidhm maidir leis an leanbh.
(2) (a) I gcás ina nglacfar banaltrú agus cothabháil linbh de láimh d'fhonn an leanbh a uchtáil, ach gur cás é nach mbaineann forálacha mhír (a) ná forálacha mhír (b) d'fho-alt (1) den alt seo leis, féadfaidh an Bord, más deimhin leis go bhfuil ag an duine a ghlacfaidh de láimh banaltrú agus cothabháil an linbh cúis leordhóthanach gan ordú uchtála a iarraidh an uair sin agus nach rud in aghaidh leas an linbh sin a dhéanamh, deimhniú a thabhairt don duine sin á dhearbhú nach mbeidh feidhm ag an alt sin 2 ar feadh cibé tréimhse a shonrófar sa deimhniú (ar tréimhse í a mheasann an Bord a bheith réasúnach sna himthoscaí).
(b) Féadfaidh an Bord deimhniú a thug sé faoin bhfo-alt seo a chúlghairm aon uair más é a thuairim gurb é leas an linbh lena mbaineann sin a dhéanamh.
(3) In aon chás lena mbaineann mír (a) d'fho-alt (1) den alt seo féadfaidh an Bord, más é a thuairim gur gá sin ar mhaithe le leas an linbh lena mbaineann, fógra a thabhairt don chumann uchtála cláraithe lena mbaineann agus don duine a ghlacfaidh de láimh banaltrú agus cothabháil an linbh gur chóir go mbainfeadh alt 2 d'Acht na Leanaí (Leasú), 1957, leis an duine réamhráite agus, ar an bhfógra a thabhairt, bainfidh an t-alt sin 2 leis an duine sin agus le socruithe a dhéanamh i gcóir an bhanaltraithe agus na cothabhála sin.
(4) Más rud é go ndiúltófar d'iarratas ar ordú uchtála i leith linbh in aon chás lena mbaineann fo-alt (1) den alt seo, bainfidh an t-alt sin 2 leis an duine a ghlacfaidh de láimh banaltrú agus cothabháil an linbh agus le socruithe a dhéanamh i gcóir an bhanaltraithe agus na cothabhála sin.
(5) I gcás ina dtabharfar fógra don Bhord de bhun fhomhír (ii) de mhír (a) d'fho-alt (1) den alt seo i dtaobh na socruithe i gcóir leanbh a bhanaltrú agus a chothabháil nó go mbeidh deimhniú faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo i bhfeidhm maidir leis an leanbh, measfar, chun an gcríocha a bhaineann leis an mBord, a chomhaltaí agus a oifigigh d'fheidhmiú na gcumhachtaí a thugtar dóibh le mír 11 den Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an bPríomh-Acht, iarratas ar ordú uchtála i leith an linbh a bheith deánta ag an duine a ghlacfaidh de láimh an banaltrú agus an chothabháil.
(6) Folóidh tagairtí san alt seo do dhuine a ghlacfaidh de láimh banaltrú agus cothabháil linbh tagairtí do bheirt duine, ar lánúin phósta iad, a ghlacfaidh de láimh an banaltrú agus an chothabháil sin i gcomhpháirt le chéile.
(7) In ionchúiseamh i leith cion a bhunaítear le fo-alt (8) den alt sin 2 toimhdheofar, go dtí go gcruthófar a mhalairt, nach bhfuil feidhm ag aon cheann de na forálacha seo a leanas, eadhon, míreanna (a), (b) agus (c) d'fho-alt (1) den alt seo, maidir leis an duine a ghlacfaidh de láimh an banaltrú agus an chothabháil lena mbaineann an t-ionchúiseamh ná le déanamh socruithe i gcóir an bhanaltraithe agus na cothabhála sin.
(8) Má tharlaíonn in aon chás lena mbaineann fo-alt (1) den alt seo, go dtiocfaidh an t-alt sin 2 chun bheith infheidhmithe aon tráth—
(a) tabharfaidh an Bord fógra don údarás sláinte laistigh den tréimhse cheithre lá dhéag tar éis an dáta a thosaigh an t-alt sin 2 chun bheith infheidhmithe, agus
(b) measfar forálacha fho-ailt (1) agus (2) den alt sin 2 a bheith comhlíonta má thugtar na fógraí dá dtagraítear iontu don údarás sláinte laistigh den tréimhse sin.
Aisghairm.
11.—(1) Aisghairtear leis seo alt 19 den Phríomh-Acht.
(2) Tiocfaidh fo-alt (1) den alt seo i ngníomh an lú lá d'Eanáir, 1966.
Gearrtheideal, forléiriú agus comhlua.
12.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Uchtála, 1964, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Déanfar an Príomh-Acht agus an tAcht seo a fhorléiriú le chéile mar aon ní amháin.
(3) Féadfar na hAchtanna Uchtála, 1952 agus 1964, a ghairm den Phríomh-Acht agus den Acht seo le chéile.
Number 2 of 1964.
ADOPTION ACT, 1964
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Extension in certain circumstances of time for applying for adoption order. | |
Acts Referred to | |
1952, No. 25. | |
1931, No. 13. | |
1957, No. 28. | |
Number 2 of 1964.
ADOPTION ACT, 1964
Definitions.
1.—In this Act—
“adoption order” means an order under section 9 of the Principal Act;
“the Board” means An Bord Uchtála;
“the Principal Act” means the Adoption Act, 1952;
“registered adoption society” means a body of persons entered in the Adoption Societies Register kept by the Board under Part IV of the Principal Act.
Adoption of legitimated child.
2.—(1) (a) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 10 of the Principal Act, an adoption order may be made in the case of a child—
(i) who has been legitimated or whose legitimation has been recognised in pursuance of the provisions of the Legitimacy Act, 1931, and
(ii) whose birth has not been re-registered in pursuance of the provisions of the Schedule to that Act or in pursuance of the law of a country other than the State,
provided that the father of the child gives his consent to the making of an adoption order or such consent is dispensed with in accordance with section 14 of the Principal Act.
(b) The provisions of subsections (2) to (6) of section 14 of the Principal Act shall apply in relation to a consent referred to in the foregoing paragraph as they apply in relation to the consents referred to in subsection (1) of that section.
(2) In sections 16, 17, 20, 24 and 39 of the Principal Act, any reference to the mother of a child shall, for the purposes of the foregoing provisions of this section, be construed as including a reference to the father of the child.
(3) Where—
(a) a child was illegitimate when the consent by the mother to the making of an adoption order was given or, in a case in which the Board has dispensed with that consent on the ground that the mother could not be found, when the child was born, and
(b) no evidence has been adduced to the Board, either by way of objection to the application for adoption or otherwise, that the child was subsequently legitimated,
the Board may assume, for the purposes of the Principal Act and this Act, that the child is illegitimate at the time the application is heard, and if the Board makes an adoption order and the child has in fact been legitimated, the order shall have the same validity as if the child had not been legitimated and the reference in section 24 of the Principal Act to the mother shall be construed as including a reference to the father.
(4) If, before the passing of this Act, an adoption order was made in respect of a legitimated child (being a child of whose legitimation the Board was not aware), the order shall have, and be deemed always to have had, the same validity as if the child had not been legitimated and the reference in section 24 of the Principal Act to the mother shall be construed as including a reference to the father.
Extension in certain circumstances of time for applying for adoption order.
3.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 10 of the Principal Act, where the Board is satisfied that in the particular circumstances of the case it is desirable to do so, it may make an adoption order in respect of a child who was more than seven years of age at the date of the application for the order if
(a) (i) the applicant has had the child in his care since before the child attained the age of seven years, and
(ii) the application is made before the child attains the age of nine years, or
(b) the applicant or, if the applicants are a married couple, one of them, is the mother, natural father or a relative of the child.
(2) Before deciding if it will make an adoption order in relation to a child to whom this section applies, the Board shall give due consideration, having regard to his age and understanding, to the wishes of the child.
(3) Subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply in relation to an application for an adoption order made before the 31st day of December, 1965.
Amendment of section 3 of Principal Act.
4.—Section 3 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion before the definition of “adoption order” of the following definition: “‘adopted person’ means a person in respect of whom an adoption order has been made;”.
Amendment of section 11 of Principal Act.
5.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in subsection (3) of section 11 of the Principal Act, an adoption order may be made on the application of a married couple who have been married to each other for not less than three years and each of whom has attained the age of twenty-five years.
(2) Section 11 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for subsection (4) of the following subsection:
“(4) An adoption order shall not be made unless the applicants are ordinarily resident in the State and have been so resident during the year ending on the date of the order.”
(3) Section 11 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the deletion of subsection (5).
Amendment of section 12 of Principal Act.
6.—Section 12 of the Principal Act shall be construed and have effect as if the Salvation Army were included in the religious denominations specified in subsection (3) of that section.
Amendment of section 22 of Principal Act.
7.—Section 22 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for subsection (3) of the following subsection:
“(3) If the date of the child's birth is unknown, the Board shall determine the probable date of birth and that date shall be entered as the child's date of birth and if the Board subsequently ascertains the actual date of the child's birth, the determination shall be cancelled and the adoption order relating to the child correspondingly amended and if the date of the child's birth is not the date determined as aforesaid, the entry shall be amended.”
Interim orders.
8.—Where, on an application for an adoption order in respect of a child, the Board is not satisfied as respects the matters referred to in section 13 of the Principal Act, it may make an order under section 17 of the Principal Act giving the custody of the child to the applicant for a probationary period if it is of opinion that, before the expiration of such period, it is likely to be satisfied as respects the matters referred to in the said section 17.
Adjournment of applications for adoption orders.
9.—For the removal of doubt, it is hereby declared that, where an application is made to the Board for an adoption order, the Board has, and always has had, power to adjourn from time to time the making of a decision whether to make or refuse to make the order.
Restriction of section 2 of Children (Amendment) Act, 1957.
10.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, section 2 of the Children (Amendment) Act, 1957, shall not apply to a person undertaking the nursing and maintenance of a child or to the making of arrangements for such nursing and maintenance if—
(a) (i) the nursing and maintenance are undertaken with a view to the adoption of the child by the person aforesaid, the arrangements for the nursing and maintenance are made by a registered adoption society, and not more than one year has elapsed since the date of the reception of the child in the home of the person, and
(ii) notice in writing of the arrangements is given to the Board before or within seven days after the reception of the child in the home of the person aforesaid, or
(b) an application has been made for an adoption order in respect of the child and the application has not been refused, or
(c) a certificate under subsection (2) of this section is in force in relation to the child.
(2) (a) Where the nursing and maintenance of a child are undertaken with a view to the adoption of the child, but the case is one to which neither the provisions of paragraph (a), nor the provisions of paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section apply, the Board may, if it is satisfied that the person undertaking the nursing and maintenance has a sufficient reason for not then applying for an adoption order and that it is not contrary to the interests of the child to do so, grant to the person a certificate declaring that the said section 2 shall not apply during such period as may be specified in the certificate (being a period which the Board thinks reasonable in the circumstances).
(b) The Board may, at any time, if it is of opinion that it is in the interests of the child concerned to do so, revoke a certificate granted by it under this subsection.
(3) In a case to which paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section applies, the Board may, if it is of opinion that the interests of the child concerned so require, notify the registered adoption society concerned and the person undertaking the nursing and maintenance of the child that section 2 of the Children (Amendment) Act, 1957, should apply to the person aforesaid and, upon the giving of the notification, the said section 2 shall apply to such person and to the making of arrangements for such nursing and maintenance.
(4) Where in a case to which subsection (1) of this section applies, an application for an adoption order in respect of a child is refused, the said section 2 shall apply to the person undertaking the nursing and maintenance of the child and to the making of arrangements for such nursing and maintenance.
(5) Where notice is given to the Board in pursuance of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section of the arrangements for the nursing and maintenance of a child or a certificate under subsection (2) of this section is in force in relation to the child, the person undertaking the nursing and maintenance shall be deemed, for the purposes of the exercise by the Board, its members and officers, of the powers conferred on them by paragraph 11 of the First Schedule to the Principal Act, to have applied for an adoption order in respect of the child.
(6) References in this section to a person undertaking the nursing and maintenance of a child include references to two persons, being a married couple, jointly undertaking such nursing and maintenance.
(7) In a prosecution for an offence created by subsection (8) of the said section 2, it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved, that none of the following provisions, namely, paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection (1) of this section, applies in relation to the person undertaking the nursing and maintenance to which the prosecution relates or in relation to the making of arrangements for such nursing and maintenance.
(8) Where in a case to which subsection (1) of this section applied, the said section 2 becomes applicable at any time—
(a) the Board shall, within the period of fourteen days after the date on which the application of the said section 2 commenced, notify the health authority, and
(b) the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of the said section 2 shall be deemed to have been complied with if the notices referred to therein are given to the health authority within that period.
Repeal.
11.—(1) Section 19 of the Principal Act is hereby repealed.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall come into operation on the 1st day of January, 1966.
Short title, construction and collective citation.
12.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Adoption Act, 1964.
(2) The Principal Act and this Act shall be construed together as one.
(3) The Principal Act and this Act may be cited together as the Adoption Acts, 1952 and 1964.