Amendment to the Magistrates’ Courts (Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995) Rules (Northern Ireland) 1996

4.  In rule 1 (Citation, commencement and interpretation), in paragraph (3)—

(a)after the definition of “child” insert—

(b)“Contracting State” means a State party to the 1996 Hague Convention;;

(c)after the definition of “guardian ad litem” insert—

“the 1996 Hague Convention” means the Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children that was signed at The Hague on 19 October 1996;

and then insert—

“judgment” in rules 21A to 21V is to be construed in accordance with Article 2(4) of the Council Regulation where it applies and as meaning any measure taken by an authority with jurisdiction under Chapter II of the 1996 Hague Convention where that Convention applies;;

(d)in the definition of “parental responsibility” after “Article 6” insert—

, and in relation to proceedings under the Council Regulation, as in Article 2(7) of that Regulation and in relation to proceedings under the Hague Convention, as in Article 1(2) of that Convention.