Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Statutory Instrument
Citation	SI 1995/755 (N.I. 2)
Territorial extent	Northern Ireland
Dates
Made	3rd December 1979
Commencement	3rd January 1980
Status: Current legislation
Text of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (SI 1995/755 (N.I. 2)) is an order in Council for Northern Ireland which mirrored the Children Act 1989, and was the first major change in child care legislation for "30 years". ^{[1] [2]}

Provisions

The order required the recording of the number of children in care. ^[3]

The order does not allow a person to allow a person to allow a person to acquire parental rights through perjury in the issuing of a birth certificate. ^[4]

The order does not necessarily grant a grandparent access rights to their grandchildren. ^[5] This can however be acquired through a contact order. ^[5]

Amendments

Children (Leaving Care) Act (Northern Ireland) 2002

Children (Leaving Care) Act (Northern Ireland) 2002
Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
Long title	An Act to make provision about children and young persons who are being, or have been, looked after by an authority within the meaning of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995; to replace Article 35 of that Order; and for connected purposes.
Citation	2002 c. 11 (N.I.)
Introduced by	Bairbre de Brún Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Dates
Royal assent	22 November 2002
Status: Current legislation
History of passage through the Assembly
Text of the Children (Leaving Care) Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

Standards for preparations for children leaving care were strengthened by the Children (Leaving Care) Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 (c. 11 (N.I.)). ^[6]

Children (Emergency Protection Orders) Act (Northern Ireland) 2007

Children (Emergency Protection Orders) Act (Northern Ireland) 2007
Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
Long title	An Act to repeal Article 64(8) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.
Citation	2007 c. 3 (N.I.)
Introduced by	Michael McGimpsey Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Dates
Royal assent	14 December 2007
Status: Current legislation
History of passage through the Assembly
Text of the Children (Emergency Protection Orders) Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Children (Emergency Protection Orders) Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 3 (N.I.)) allows for courts to grant an emergency protection order if certain conditions are met. ^{[7] [8]}

References

1. Duffy, Joe; Caldwell, Jason; Collins, Mary (1 October 2016). "Reflections on the Impact of the Children (NI) Order 1995". Child Care in Practice. 22 (4): 327–332. doi:10.1080/13575279.2016.1228258. ISSN   1357-5279.
2. Kelly, Greg; Coulter, Joan (1 October 1997). "The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 a New Era for Fostering and Adoption Services?" . Adoption & Fostering. 21 (3): 5–13. doi:10.1177/030857599702100303. ISSN   0308-5759.
3. Rosato, Eve (14 February 2019). "Number of children in care at record high in NI". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
4. O'Hanlon, Gillian (21 February 2025). "NI High Court: Man did not acquire parental responsibility of child due to perjury at registration of birth". Irish Legal News. Archived from the original on 29 May 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
5. Bellis, Alexander; Jarrett, Tim (29 May 2025). "Grandchildren's access rights to their grandparents". House of Commons Library.
6. Pinkerton, John (2021). "Exploring history in the social ecology of care leaving: Northern Ireland as illustration". Child & Family Social Work. 26 (2): 270–279. doi:10.1111/cfs.12804. ISSN   1365-2206.
7. "Understanding Care Orders - Your Rights as a Parent in Northern Ireland". Francis Hanna Solicitors. Archived from the original on 23 March 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
8. Vadgama, Jalpa (12 July 2024). "Emergency Protection Orders: Urgent Steps to Protect a Child | GN Law". Guile Nicholas Solicitors. Archived from the original on 29 May 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2025.