All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.

Contents

• Commencement
• Amendments and other effects
• SIs made under the Act

Commencement

Section	Commencement Date	Commencement Information
Whole Act	1 October 1991	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991 (Commencement) Order 1991 (S.I. No. 235 of 1991), art. 2

Amendments and other effects

How Affected	Affecting Provision
Proceedings  under Act included in definition of family law proceedings	27/2017, ss. 1(2), 2
Amended - “Child and Family Agency” substituted for “Health Service Executive”	40/2013, ss. 1(2), 97, schedule 2 pt. 5
Court fees excluded for proceedings under	S.I. No. 369 of 1997, arts. 2, 5(a)(vi)
Functions transferred and references construed	42/2004, ss. 4,59, 67(2) and sch. 3
Requirement to grant legal aid under Act	32/1995, s.28(5)(b)
Ct. powers in proceedings under	26/1995, ss. 1(2)(a), 47(1), 47(6)(g)
Part II (ss. 3-16) contracting states specified	S.I. No. 238 of 1998, arts. 2, 3
Part III (ss. 17-34) contracting states specified	S.I. No. 237 of 1998, arts. 2, 3
Saving for	37/2000, ss. 12(a), 19(2)
Transfer of functions	40/2013, ss. 1(2), 6, 82, schedule 1
	S. I. No. 297 of 1997, art. 4(1)(a), schedule
	42/2004, ss. 3(1), 4, 58, 59(1), 59(2), 59(3), schedule 3
S. 2 amended	S.I. No. 400 of 2022, regs. 1(2), 9(a)
S. 2 definitions amended	42/2004, ss. 3(1), 75, schedule 6, pt. 12
	40/1997, ss. 1(2), 18
S. 2 definitions substituted	26/1995, ss. 1(2), 55
S. 2(1) amended	S.I. No. 112 of 2005, regs. 1(2), 8(a)(i), 8(a)(ii)
S. 2(2) inserted	S.I. No. 112 of 2005, regs. 1(2), 8(a)(iii)
Pt. II (ss. 3-16) contracting States specified	S.I. No. 400 of 2011, arts. 2(a), 4, schedule 1
	S.I. No. 220 of 2008, arts. 2(a), 4, schedule 1
	S.I. No. 507 of 2001, art. 2(a), 4, schedule 1
	S.I. No. 123 of 1997, arts. 2, 3
S. 6 amended	S.I. No. 112 of 2005, regs. 1(2), 8(b)
S. 7(2) substituted	S.I. No. 112 of 2005, regs. 1(2), 8(c)
S. 7(2)(b) amended	S.I. No. 400 of 2022, regs. 1(2), 9(b)(i), (ii)
S. 14 amended	42/2004, ss. 3 (1), 75, schedule 6, pt. 12
S. 15(1) substituted	S.I. No. 112 of 2005, regs. 1(2), 8(d)
Pt. III (ss. 17-34) contracting States specified	S.I. No. 508 of 2001, art. 2(a), 4, schedule 1
	S.I. No. 124 of 1997, arts. 2, 3
S. 30 amended	42/2004, ss. 3 (1), 75, schedule 6, pt. 12
S. 36(5) references construed	13/2021, s. 4(2), schedule 2
S. 36A inserted	37/2000, ss. 17, 19(2)
S. 37(2) substituted	42/2004, ss. 3(1), 75, schedule 6, pt. 12, item 4(a)
S. 37(3) amended	42/2004, ss. 3(1), 75, schedule 6, pt. 12, items 4(a), 4(b)
S. 37(4) amended	42/2004, ss. 3(1), 75, schedule 6, pt. 12, items 4(a), 4(b)
S. 37(5) amended	42/2004, ss. 3(1), 75, schedule 6, pt. 12, items 4(a), 4(b)

SIs made under the Act

Section	SIs made under the Act
S. 4	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991 (Section 4) (Hague Convention) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 400 of 2011)
	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991 (Section 4) (Hague Convention) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 220 of 2008)
	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991 (Section 4) (Hague Convention) Order 2001 (S.I. No. 507 of 2001)
S. 4(1)	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991 (Contracting States)(Hague Convention)(Section 4(1)(B)) Order, 1998 (S.I. No. 478 of 1998)
	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991 (Contracting States) (Hague Convention) Order 1998 (S.I. No. 238 of 1998)
	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991 (Contracting States) (Hague Convention) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 123 of 1997)
S. 4(3)	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991 (Contracting States)(Hague Convention)(Revocation) Order 1998 (S.I. No. 477 of 1998)
	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991 (Contracting States)(Hague Convention)(Amendment) Order 1998 (S.I. No. 476 of 1998)
S. 8(1)	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991 (Appointment of Central Authorities) Order 1993 (S.I. No. 121 of 1993)
S. 18	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991 (Section 18) (Luxembourg Convention) Order 2001 (S.I. No. 508 of 2001)
S. 18(1)	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Acts 1991 (Contracting States) (Luxembourg Convention) Order 1998 (S.I. No. 237 of 1998)
	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act (Contracting States) (Luxembourg Convention) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 124 of 1997)
S. 22(1)	Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act 1991 (Appointment of Central Authorities) Order 1993 (S.I. No. 121 of 1993)