In 1999, 73 cases of parental child abduction involving 118 children were reported to the authorities here, according to a new charity launched today by FG MEP Ms Mary Banotti.
The charity, the Irish Centre for Parentally Abducted Children (ICPAC), aims to inform parents of their rights and obligations in cases where their children have been abducted by a spouse, or in cases where Irish parents living abroad abduct their children and bring them back to Ireland.
To mark the launch, ICPAC issued an information pack which advises parents on practical and legal measures they should take if they fear their children may be abducted by a partner.
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Mary Banotti MEP
at today's launch |
Speaking at the launch, Ms Banotti - the European Parliament's mediator on child abduction - said that since 1991 over 700 cases of parental abduction had been reported to the authorities, 258 of them from Ireland into another jurisdiction.
"Under the Hague convention on abduction in 1980 there are set laws and obligations that must be adhered to within the signatory countries.
"There are also many other jurisdictions which are not covered by this convention.
"[We hope ICPAC] will back up our national laws which are enforced by High Court judges familiar with all the Hague Convention."
Under the Hague Convention of 1980 it is illegal for a parent to take a child out of the country of their birth without the permission of the other parent.
In 1999, of the 106 cases that went through the High Court in Ireland, 68 involved children being brought into the jurisdiction and 38 dealt with children being taken out of the State.
Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children Ms Mary Hanafin said this afternoon the centre would operate on the basis of a combination of a telephone help-line and the information pack.
"Ireland is party to two international conventions on child abduction," said Ms Hanafin, "the 1996 Hague Convention on Jurisdiction, and the Luxembourg Convention. "The Irish authorities . . .have been very diligent and proactive in facilitating applications under the Hague Convention.
"I am sure that the ICPAC will make an important contribution to preventing abductions taking place and in providing support and assistance where they have occurred."
ICPAC has also linked up with reunite, the British International Child Abduction Centre, which launched its Northern Ireland operation in Belfast this morning with the assistance of the Garda and the Government.