Implementation of Convention

1Regulations giving effect to Convention

1

Subject to the provisions of this Act, regulations made by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety ( “the Department”) may make provision for giving effect to the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption, concluded at the Hague on 29th May 1993 ( “the Convention”).

2

The text of the Convention (so far as material) is set out in the Schedule.

3

Regulations under this section may—

a

apply, with or without modifications, any statutory provision relating to adoption;

b

provide that any person who contravenes any provision of the regulations is to be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both; and

c

make such incidental, supplementary, consequential or transitional provision as appears to the Department to be expedient.

4

Regulations under this section shall be subject to negative resolution.

5

Any power to make subordinate legislation under or for the purposes of any statutory provision relating to adoption includes power to do so with a view to giving effect to the provisions of the Convention.