Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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167. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps that can be taken to facilitate and assist a person (details supplied) in distress; and if legal or diplomatic assistance will be provided through an embassy. [23091/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any matter which may be the subject of legal proceedings now or in the future.

By way of assisting the Deputy with some information of general relevance, the International Child Abduction Unit is the Central Authority within my Department 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 the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 of 27 November 2003.

The procedures for dealing with situations of international parental child abduction involving countries which are party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction are set out in the Child Abduction and Enforcements of Custody Orders Act 1991. EC Regulation 2201/2003 supplements and supports the terms of the Hague Convention in instances of international parental child abduction between Member States excluding Denmark.

Any assistance provided by embassies overseas would be a matter for our colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs.