Children Act, 1997

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Number 40 of 1997

CHILDREN ACT, 1997

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Preliminary and General

Section
1.	Short title, commencement and collective citation.
2.	Interpretation.
3.	Expenses.

Guardianship, Custody and Maintenance

4.	Rights of certain fathers to guardianship.
5.	Jurisdiction in guardianship matters.
6.	Power of court to appoint certain fathers as guardians.
7.	Appointment and removal of guardians by court.
8.	Age of dependency of child.
9.	New sections.
10.	Amendment of section 17 of Act of 1964.
11.	Insertion of new Part IV (Safeguarding Interests of Children).
12.	Further amendment of Act of 1964.
13.	Amendment of section 28 of Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995.
14.	Amendment of section 5 of Courts (No. 2) Act, 1986.
15.	Amendment of Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act, 1976.
16.	Amendment of section 41 of Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989.
17.	Amendment of section 20 of Child Care Act, 1991.
18.	Amendment of section 2 of Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act, 1991.

Evidence of Children

Acts Referred to
Adoption Acts, 1952 to 1991
Age of Majority Act, 1985	1985, No. 2
Child Abduction and Enforcement of Custody Orders Act, 1991	1991, No. 6
Child Care Act, 1991	1991, No. 17
Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995	1995, No. 32
Courts Act, 1981	1981, No. 11
Courts Act, 1991	1991, No. 20
Courts (No. 2) Act, 1986	1986, No. 26
Family Law Act, 1995	1995, No. 26
Family Law (Divorce) Act, 1996	1996, No. 33
Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act, 1976	1976, No. 11
Guardianship of Children Acts, 1964 to 1997
Guardianship of Infants Act, 1964	1964, No. 7
Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989	1989, No. 6
Status of Children Act, 1987	1987, No. 26
Succession Act, 1965	1965, No. 27

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Number 40 of 1997

CHILDREN ACT, 1997

AN ACT TO AMEND THE GUARDIANSHIP OF INFANTS ACT, 1964 , BY PROVIDING A MECHANISM FOR AND RELATING TO THE RECOGNITION OF NATURAL FATHERS AS GUARDIANS, FOR THE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT OF THE WISHES OF CHILDREN IN GUARDIANSHIP, CUSTODY AND ACCESS DECISIONS AFFECTING THEIR WELFARE, AND FOR THE SAFEGUARDING OF THE INTERESTS OF CHILDREN, INCLUDING THEIR REPRESENTATION, IN CERTAIN COURT PROCEEDINGS; AND RELATING TO THE GIVING OF EVIDENCE IN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS BY CHILDREN BY MEANS OF TELEVISION LINKS AND THROUGH INTERMEDIARIES AND THE ADMISSIBILITY OF AND WEIGHT TO BE GIVEN TO SUCH EVIDENCE; AND TO AMEND THE CIVIL LEGAL AID ACT, 1995 , THE COURTS (No. 2) ACT, 1986 , THE JUDICIAL SEPARATION AND FAMILY LAW REFORM ACT, 1989 , THE CHILD CARE ACT, 1991 , THE CHILD ABDUCTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF CUSTODY ORDERS ACT, 1991 , AND THE FAMILY LAW (MAINTENANCE OF SPOUSES AND CHILDREN) ACT, 1976 ; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. [9th December, 1997]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: