Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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170. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she has taken in relation to the abduction of a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57945/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Central Authority for Child Abduction is located within my Department. The Central Authority can only assist on cases where children have been removed from this jurisdiction to a country that is a bilateral partner to the 1980 Hague Convention, that is, where their accession is accepted by this jurisdiction.

Pakistan’s accession to the Hague Convention became effective in 2017. To date, only 12 countries have accepted their accession. For Ireland and Pakistan to become bilateral partners, a Council Decision must be taken at EU level on whether to accept the accession of Pakistan. A proposal for such a decision was published by the European Commission in July this year, COM(2021) 368 final. At this point in time Pakistan’s accession is not yet accepted by the EU.

When a member of the public contacts the Central Authority and the country is not a bilateral partner or there is no agreement between Ireland and that country, they are advised to contact the Department of Foreign Affairs, Consular Assistance Office on 01 4082527 or at: consularassistance@dfa.ie.

I understand that representations have been made to their consular assistance office and that the relevant Embassy (Ankara) has been made aware of the situation.