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Changes over time for: Section 8


Timeline of Changes
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Status:
This version of this provision is prospective.

Status
The term provision is used to describe a definable element in a piece of legislation that has legislative effect – such as a Part, Chapter or section. A version of a provision is prospective either:
- where the provision (Part, Chapter or section) has never come into force or;
- where the text of the provision is subject to change, but no date has yet been appointed by the appropriate person or body for those changes to come into force.
Commencement Orders listed in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ box as not yet applied may bring this prospective version into force.
Changes to legislation:
Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, Section 8 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 05 March 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 8:
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Prospective
Inactive or defunct adoption societies, etc.N.I.
This section has no associated Explanatory Notes
8.—(1) This section applies where it appears to the Department that—
(a)a body which is or has been an appropriate voluntary organisation is inactive or defunct, or
(b)a body which has ceased to be an appropriate voluntary organisation by virtue of the cancellation of its registration has not made such arrangements for the transfer of its functions relating to children as are specified in a direction given by the Department.
(2) The Department may, in relation to such functions of the body as relate to children, direct what appears to it to be the appropriate adoption authority to take any such action as might have been taken by the body or by the body jointly with the authority.
(3) An adoption authority is entitled to take any action which—
(a)apart from this subsection the authority would not be entitled to take, or would not be entitled to take without joining the body in the action, but
(b)the authority is directed to take under subsection (2).
(4) The Department may charge the body for expenses necessarily incurred by the Department or on its behalf in securing the transfer of the body’s functions relating to children.
(5) Before giving a direction under subsection (2) the Department must, if practicable, consult both the body and the adoption authority.
(6) In this section “registration” means registration under Part 3 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.
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