Central Authority and accredited bodies
2.—(1) The functions under the Convention of the Central Authority shall be discharged in relation to Northern Ireland by the Department.
(2) A communication may be sent to the Central Authority in relation to Northern Ireland by sending it to the Central Authority in relation to England (for forwarding to the Central Authority in relation to Northern Ireland).
(3) A registered adoption society is an accredited body for the purposes of the Convention if its registration extends to the provision of facilities in respect of Convention adoptions and adoptions effected by Convention adoption orders.
(4) The functions under Article 9(a) to (c) of the Convention are to be discharged by Boards, HSS trusts and accredited bodies on behalf of the Central Authority.
(5) In this section “registered adoption society” has the same meaning as in the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (NI 22) (“the 1987 Order”); and expressions which are also used in that Order have the same meaning as in that Order.