The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, Section 173 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 09 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.
173.—(1) The court shall not exercise its inherent jurisdiction with respect to children—
(a)so as to require a child to be placed in the care, or put under the supervision, of a F1... [F2Health and Social Care trust];
(b)so as to require a child to be accommodated by or on behalf of a F1... [F3Health and Social Care trust];
(c)so as to make a child who is the subject of a care order a ward of court; or
(d)for the purpose of conferring on any F1... [F4Health and Social Care trust] power to determine any question which has arisen, or which may arise, in connection with any aspect of parental responsibility for a child.
(2) No application for any exercise of the court's inherent jurisdiction with respect to children may be made by an authority unless the authority has obtained the leave of the court.
(3) The court may only grant leave if it is satisfied that—
(a)the result which the authority wishes to achieve could not be achieved through the making of any order of a kind to which paragraph (4) applies; and
(b)there is reasonable cause to believe that if the court's inherent jurisdiction is not exercised with respect to the child he is likely to suffer significant harm.
(4) This paragraph applies to any order—
(a)made otherwise than in the exercise of the court's inherent jurisdiction; and
(b)which the authority is entitled to apply for (assuming, in the case of any application which may only be made with leave, that leave is granted).
(5) In this Article “the court” means the High Court.
F1Words in art. 173(1) omitted (1.4.2022) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 3), s. 8(1)(b), Sch. 1 para. 164; S.R. 2022/102, art. 2(b)
F2Words in art. 173(1)(a) substituted (1.4.2009) by Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 (c. 1), ss. 32, 34(3), Sch. 6 para. 1(1)(c) (with Sch. 6 para. 1(3)); S.R. 2009/114, art. 2
F3Words in art. 173(1)(b) substituted (1.4.2009) by Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 (c. 1), ss. 32, 34(3), Sch. 6 para. 1(1)(c) (with Sch. 6 para. 1(3)); S.R. 2009/114, art. 2
F4Words in art. 173(1)(d) substituted (1.4.2009) by Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 (c. 1), ss. 32, 34(3), Sch. 6 para. 1(1)(c) (with Sch. 6 para. 1(3)); S.R. 2009/114, art. 2
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