International Child Abduction

The Civil Law Reform Division acts as the Central Authority in Ireland on international child abduction.  There are a number of international and EU instruments which govern this area:

• The 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction;
• The 1996 Hague Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children;
• The European Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions Concerning Custody of Children (the Luxembourg Convention);
• Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003.

In this section, find out about:

• International and EU Instruments
• Applying for the Return of a Child/Access to a Child taken abroad