Central Authority and accredited bodiesN.I.
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).
[F1(2A) A voluntary adoption agency in respect of which a person is registered under Part III of the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 is an accredited body for the purposes of the Convention if, in accordance with the conditions of the registration, the agency may provide facilities in respect of Convention adoptions and adoptions effected by Convention adoption orders.]
(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, [F2HSC trust] and accredited bodies on behalf of the Central Authority.
[F3(5) In this section “voluntary adoption agency” has the same meaning as in the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003; and expressions which are also used in the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (NI 22) (“the 1987 Order”) have the same meaning as in that Order.]
F1S. 2(2A) inserted (29.10.2010) by Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/431 (N.I. 9)), arts. 1(3), 50(1), Sch. 4; S.R. 2010/288, art. 3, Sch. 1
F2Words in Order substituted (1.4.2009) by virtue of Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 (c. 1), ss. 32, 34(3), Sch. 6 para. 1(1)(d) (with Sch. 6 para. 1(3)); S.R. 2009/114, art. 2