Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs with whom responsibility rests for initiating prosecutions for breaches of the 1952 Adoption Act and all subsequent adoption legislation. [14760/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Adoption Act, 2010, was commenced on 1 November 2010.Prior to the commencement of this Act, adoption in Ireland was governed by the Adoption Acts 1952, 1964, 1974, 1976, 1988, 1991 and 1998. These Acts were repealed by the Adoption Act, 2010.

Part 15, Chapter 2 of the Adoption Act, 2010, sets out the offences, penalties and proceedings for offences. Having received a report it would be a matter for the Garda Síochána to investigate offences under the legislation. Decisions in relation to prosecution are a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions.