Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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189. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the Garda liaison that is available in situations of potential child abduction, involuntary parental separation from children and other issues; the State bodies that exist to deal with parental concerns relating to the legality of parental separation from children, particularly taking children abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1547/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that other Government Departments and agencies, such as the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, may have a responsibility in this area, depending on the circumstances of a given case.

Insofar as my own remit is concerned, the International Child Abduction Unit is the Central Authority within the Department of Justice and Equality that provides assistance to parents and guardians of children who have been removed from the jurisdiction without their consent. This unit is a transmitting and receiving agency for applications for the return of children to the jurisdiction under the 1980 Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 of 27 November 2003. Applications to establish and/or enforce court orders concerning access rights to children are also dealt with under the aforementioned international instruments. The International Child Abduction Unit can only provide assistance when children have been taken to EU Member States or to countries that are party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980 Convention). The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provide assistance when children are removed to a country that is not party to the 1980 Hague Convention. Parents and guardians who have any concerns regarding the legality of parental separation should seek legal advice without delay.

I have also asked the Garda authorities for information on the relevant measures and procedures which Gardaí may employ in relation to such cases and I will contact the Deputy directly when I have received a full report on the matter.