Number 24 of 1974

ADOPTION ACT, 1974

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SCHEDULE

Repeals.

Number 24 of 1974

ADOPTION ACT, 1974

Interpretation.

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.

Welfare of child.

2.—In any matter, application or proceedings before the Board or any court relating to the arrangements for or the making of an adoption order, the Board or the court, in deciding that question, shall regard the welfare of the child as the first and paramount consideration.

Power to make adoption order in the absence of consent.

3.—(1) In any case where a person has applied for an adoption order relating to a child and any person whose consent to the making of an adoption order relating to the child is necessary and who has agreed to the placing of the child for adoption either—

(a) fails, neglects or refuses to give his consent, or

(b) withdraws a consent already given,

the applicant for the adoption order may apply to the High Court for an order under this section.

(2) The High Court, if it is satisfied that it is in the best interests of the child so to do, may make an order under this section—

(a) giving custody of the child to the applicant for such period as the Court may determine, and

(b) authorising the Board to dispense with the consent of the other person referred to in subsection (1) of this section to the making of an adoption order in favour of the applicant during the period aforesaid.

(3) The consent of a ward of court shall not be dispensed with by virtue of a High Court order under this section except with the sanction of the Court.

Religion.

4.—An adoption order shall not be made in any case where the applicants, the child and his parents, or, if the child is illegitimate, his mother, are not all of the same religion, unless every person whose consent to the making of the order is required by section 14 of the Principal Act or by section 2 of the Adoption Act, 1964, knows the religion (if any) of each of the applicants when he gives his consent.

Application by widower for adoption order.

5.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 11 of the Principal Act (as amended by section 5 of the Act of 1964), in any case where—

(a) a child is in the care of a married couple who have made an application for an adoption order in relation to that child, and

(b) the wife dies before the making of the adoption order,

the Board may make an adoption order relating to that child on the application of the widower: Provided that—

(i) the widower has, at the date of his application another child in his custody, and

(ii) every person, whose consent to the making of the adoption order is required by section 14 of the Principal Act or by section 2 of the Act of 1964, knows, when he gives his consent, that the applicant is a widower.

(2) In any case where an application for an adoption order is made under this section, any consent given to the making of an adoption order in respect of the child in favour of the married couple shall be disregarded.

Restriction on making arrangements for adoption.

6.—The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for section 34 of the following section:

“34.(1) It shall not be lawful for any body of persons to make or to attempt to make any arrangements for the adoption of a child or, for that purpose, to retain a child in its custody or to arrange to have a child retained by any other person or body.

(2) If any person takes any part in the management or control of a body of persons which exists wholly or in part for the purpose of making arrangements for adoption, that person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(3) In any proceedings under subsection (2) of this section, proof of things done or of words written, spoken or published (whether or not in the presence of any party to the proceedings) by any person taking part in the management or control of a body of persons, or in making arrangements for adoption on behalf of the body, shall be admissible as evidence of the purpose for which that body exists.

(4) It shall not be lawful for any person to give a child, or to cause a child to be given, to any other person for the purpose of having that child adopted by that other person, or by any other person, unless either the first mentioned person is a parent of the child, or the person who intends to adopt the child is a relative, or the spouse of a relative, of the child.

(5) Any person who contravenes subsection (4) of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(6) This section does not apply to registered adoption societies or to health boards.”

Power to appoint Deputy Chairman.

7.—Section 8 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion after subsection (4) of the following:

“(4A) The Government may appoint one of the ordinary members to be Deputy Chairman and the Deputy Chairman may act as chairman in the absence of the Chairman.

(4B) A person shall not be appointed Deputy Chairman unless he is qualified to be appointed Chairman.”

Amendment of section 15 of Principal Act.

8.—The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for section 15 of the following section:

“15. (1) A consent shall not be valid unless it is given after the child has attained the age of six weeks and not earlier than three months before the application for adoption.

(2) The Board shall satisfy itself that every person whose consent is necessary and has not been dispensed with has given consent and understands the nature and effect of the consent and of the adoption order.”

Restriction on making of adoption order.

9.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, an adoption order shall not be made in respect of a child unless the child has been in the care of the applicants for such period (if any) as may be prescribed.

(2) The Board may, having regard to the particular circumstances of the case, make an adoption order in respect of a child notwithstanding that the child has not been in the care of the applicants for the period prescribed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.

Amendment of section 22 of Principal Act.

10.—Section 22 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution in subsection (2) for “The entry shall be in the form set out in the Second Schedule and contain the particulars required by the form” of “The entry shall be in the form set out in the Second Schedule, or in such other form as may be approved from time to time by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Health, and shall contain the particulars required by such form.”

Amendment of Section 3 of Adoption Act, 1964.

11.—Section 3 of the Adoption Act, 1964, is hereby amended by—

(a) the substitution for subsection (1) of the following—

“(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”, and

(b) the deletion of subsection (3).

Remuneration of Deputy Chairman.

12.—The First Schedule to the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion after paragraph 5 of the following:

“Remuneration of Deputy Chairman.

There may be paid to the Deputy Chairman, in respect of any period when he acts as chairman, such remuneration as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for the Public Service, determines.”

Repeals.

13.—The enactments mentioned in the Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.

Short title, construction and collective citation.

14.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Adoption Act, 1974.

(2) The Adoption Acts, 1952 and 1964, and this Act shall be construed together as one.

(3) The Adoption Acts, 1952 and 1964, and this Act may be cited together as the Adoption Acts, 1952 to 1974.

SCHEDULE

Repeals

Section 13.

Uimhir 24 de 1974

AN tACHT UCHTÁLA, 1974

[An tiontú oifigiúil]

Léiriú.

1952, Uimh. 25.

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.

Leas linbh.

2.—In aon ábhar, iarratas nó imeachtaí os comhair an Bhoird nó aon chúirte a bhaineann le comhshocraíochtaí le haghaidh ordaithe uchtála nó le hordú uchtála a dhéanamh, áireoidh an Bord nó an chúirt, le linn an cheist sin a chinneadh, gur ní ró-thábhachtach ag a bhfuil tosach airde leas an linbh.

Cumhacht ordú uchtála a dhéanamh gan toiliú.

3.—(1) In aon chás ina mbeidh duine tar éis ordú uchtála a iarraidh i ndáil le leanbh agus aon duine ar gá a thoiliú le hordú uchtála a dhéanamh i ndáil leis an leanbh agus a mbeidh aontaithe aige an leanbh a chur le huchtáil—

(a) do mhainniú, d'fhailliú nó do dhiúltú a thoiliú a thabhairt, nó

(b) do tharraingt siar toiliú a bheidh tugtha,

féadfaidh iarratasóir an ordaithe uchtála iarratas a dhéanamh chun na hArd-Chúirte ar ordú faoin alt seo.

(2) Féadfaidh an Ard-Chúirt, más deimhin léi gurb é leas an linbh sin a dhéanamh, ordú a dhéanamh faoin alt seo—

(a) ag tabhairt choimeád an linbh don iarratasóir go ceann cibé tréimhse a chinnfidh an Chúirt, agus

(b) ag údarú an Bhoird toiliú an duine eile dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo le hordú uchtála i bhfabhar an iarratasóra ar feadh na tréimhse réamhráite a ligean thar ceal.

(3) Ní ligfear toiliú coimircí cúirte thar ceal de bhua ordaithe Ard-Chúirte faoin alt seo ach amháin le ceadú na Cúirte.

Creideamh.

1964, Uimh. 2.

4.—Ní dhéanfar ordú uchtála in aon chás nach den chreideamh céanna na hiarratasóirí, an leanbh agus a thuismitheoirí, nó, más leanbh neamhdhlisteanach an leanbh, a mháthair, mura feasach gach duine ar gá a thoiliú leis an ordú de réir alt 14 den Phríomh-Acht nó de réir alt 2 den Acht Uchtála, 1964, creideamh (más ann) gach duine de na hiarratasóirí nuair a bheidh a thoiliú á thabhairt aige.

Iarratas ó bhaintreach fir ar ordú uchtála.

5.—(1) D'ainneoin aon ní in alt 11 den Phríomh-Acht (arna leasú le halt 5 d'Acht 1964), i gcás—

(a) leanbh a bheith faoi chúram lánúna pósta a bhfuil iarratas ar ordú uchtála i ndáil leis an leanbh sin déanta acu, agus

(b) an banchéile d'fháil bháis sula mbeidh an t-ordú uchtála déanta,

féadfaidh an Bord ordú uchtála a dhéanamh i ndáil leis an leanbh sin ar an mbaintreach fir á iarraidh sin: Ar choinníoll—

(i) go mbeidh leanbh eile ina choimeád ag an mbaintreach fir ar dháta an iarratais uaidh, agus

(ii) i gcás gach duine, ar gá de réir alt 14 den Phríomh-Acht nó de réir alt 2 d'Acht 1964 a thoiliú leis an ordú uchtála a dhéanamh, gur feasach é, le linn dó a thoiliú a thabhairt, gur baintreach fir an t-iarratasóir.

(2) Déanfar neamhshuim, in aon chás a n-iarrfar ordú uchtála faoin alt seo, d'aon toiliú a tugadh le hordú uchtála a dhéanamh maidir leis an leanbh i bhfabhar na lánúna pósta.

Srian le comhshocraíochtaí uchtála a dhéanamh.

6.—Leasaítear leis seo an Príomh-Acht tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 34:

“34. (1) Ní dleathach d'aon chomhlacht daoine aon chomhshocraíochtaí a dhéanamh, ná féachaint le hiad a dhéanamh, chun leanbh a uchtáil ná, chun na críche sin, leanbh a choinneáil ina choimeád ná a shocrú go gcoinneoidh aon duine eile nó aon chomhlacht eile leanbh.

(2) Má ghlacann aon duine páirt ar bith i mbainistí nó i rialú comhlachta daoine arb é is aon-chuspóir dó, nó ar ceann dá chuspóirí, comhshocraíochtaí a dhéanamh le haghaidh uchtála, beidh an duine sin ciontach i gcion agus dlífear ar é a chiontú go hachomair fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá mhí dhéag nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile a chur air.

(3) Má thugtar cruthúnas, in aon imeachtaí faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo, ar nithe a bheidh déanta nó focail a bheith scríofa, ráite nó foilsithe (cibé acu i láthair aon pháirtí sna himeachtaí é nó nach ea) ag duine ar bith a ghlac páirt i mbainistí nó i rialú comhlachta daoine, nó i ndéanamh comhshocraíochtaí le haghaidh uchtála thar ceann an chomhlachta, beidh an cruthúnas sin inghlachta mar fhianaise ar an gcuspóir ar chuige atá an comhlacht sin ann.

(4) Ní dleathach d'aon duine leanbh a thabhairt, ná a chur faoi deara leanbh a thabhairt, d'aon duine eile le go n-uchtódh an duine eile sin, nó aon duine eile, an leanbh sin, mura rud é gur duine de thuismitheoirí an linbh an duine chéadluaite nó gur duine, nó céile duine, a bhfuil gaol aige leis an leanbh an duine a bheartaíonn an leanbh a uchtáil.

(5) Aon duine a sháróidh fo-alt (4) den alt seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear ar é a chiontú go hachomair fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá mhí dhéag nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile a chur air.

(6) Ní bhaineann an t-alt seo le cumainn uchtála chláraithe ná le boird sláinte.”

Cumhacht Leas-Chathaoirleach a cheapadh.

7.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 8 den Phríomh-Acht tríd an méid seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh fho-alt (4):

“(4A) Féadfaidh an Rialtas duine de na gnáth-chomhaltaí a cheapadh ina Leas-Chathaoirleach agus féadfaidh an Leas-Chathaoirleach gníomhú mar chathaoirleach le linn don Chathaoirleach a bheith as láthair.

(4B) Ní cheapfar duine ina Leas-Chathaoirleach mura mbeidh sé cáilithe le ceapadh ina Chathaoirleach.”

Leasú ar alt 15 den Phríomh-Acht.

8.—Leasaítear leis seo an Príomh-Acht tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 15:

“15. (1) Ní bheidh toiliú bailí mura tar éis don leanbh sé sheachtain d'aois a shlánú agus tráth nach luaithe ná trí mhí roimh an lá a dhéanfar an t-iarratas ar uchtáil a thabharfar é.

(2) Deimhneoidh an Bord dó féin maidir le gach duine ar gá a thoiliú agus nach mbeidh a thoiliú ligthe thar ceal go bhfuil a thoiliú tugtha aige agus go dtuigeann sé cad é an rud é an toiliú agus an t-ordú uchtála agus a n-éifeacht.”

Srian le hordú uchtála a dhéanamh.

9.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2) den alt seo, ní dhéanfar ordú uchtála maidir le leanbh mura mbeidh cibé tréimhse (más ann) a bheidh forordaithe caite ag an leanbh faoi chúram na n-iarratasóirí.

(2) Féadfaidh an Bord, ag féachaint d'imthosca áirithe an cháis, ordú uchtála a dhéanamh maidir le leanbh d'ainneoin nach mbeidh an tréimhse a bheidh forordaithe de bhun fho-alt (1) den alt seo caite ag an leanbh faoi chúram na n-iarratasóirí.

Leasú ar alt 22 den Phríomh-Acht.

10.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 22 den Phríomh-Acht trí “Is san fhoirm atá leagtha amach sa Dara Sceideal, nó i cibé foirm eile a cheadóidh an tAire ó am go ham le toiliú an Aire Sláinte, a bheidh an taifead agus beidh sa taifead sin na sonraí is gá de réir na foirme sin” a chur i bhfo-alt (2) in ionad “Is sa bhfoirm atá leagtha amach sa Dara Sceideal a bheas an taifead agus beidh ann na sonraí is gá do réir na foirme.”

Leasú ar alt 3 den Acht Uchtála, 1964.

11.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 3 den Acht Uchtála, 1964—

(a) tríd an méid seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (1)—

“(1) D'ainneoin aon ní in alt 10 den Phríomh-Acht, féadfaidh an Bord, i gcás inar deimhin leis gurb inmhianaithe, in imthosca áirithe an cháis, sin a dhéanamh, ordú uchtála a dhéanamh maidir le leanbh a bhí os cionn seacht mbliana d'aois ar dháta an ordaithe a iarraidh”, agus

(b) trí fho-alt (3) a scriosadh.

Luach saothair an Leas-Chathaoirligh.

12.—Leasaítear leis seo an Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an bPríomh-Acht tríd an méid seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh mhír 5:

Aisghairm.

13.—Déantar leis seo na hachtacháin a luaitear sa Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo a aisghairm a mhéid a shonraítear sa tríú colún den Sceideal sin.

Gearrtheideal, forléiriú agus comhlua.

14.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Uchtála, 1974, a ghairm den Acht seo.

(2) Forléireofar na hAchtanna Uchtála, 1952 agus 1964, agus an tAcht seo le chéile mar aon ní amháin.

(3) Féadfar na hAchtanna Uchtála, 1952 go 1974, a ghairm de na hAchtanna Uchtála, 1952 agus 1964, agus den Acht seo le chéile.

AN SCEIDEAL

Aisghairm

Alt 13.