Minister McEntee signs Commencement Order for the Children (Amendment) Act 2021

Minister McEntee has today signed the commencement order for the Children (Amendment) Act 2021. This follows the passage of the legislation through the Houses of the Oireachtas and the signing into law by the President of the Act on 26 April.

The Minister has been advised that because the Act relates to a criminal offence, it should not be brought into operation before it has been fully promulgated, pursuant to article 25 of the Constitution.

To allow time for publication in the Iris Oifigiúil, and enrolment in the office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, the advice is that the Act should not be commenced before 7 May 2021.

The Act will therefore commence on 7 May 2021, as the commencement order provides.