192 children abducted by a parent last year
The 192 children were involved in 147 new cases in 2012, five more cases than in 2011, according to the Department of Justice.
The 147 cases included 64 abductions into the country and 83 out of Ireland.
In total, the Irish Central Authority, the department unit responsible for the area, said it dealt with 276 cases in 2012, including 129 cases carried over from 2011.
Alan Shatter, the justice minister, said he was concerned about the figures. “Parental child abduction continues to be a worrying problem,” he said.
Figures from the Irish Central Authority show:
nOf the 147 new cases involving 192 children, 64 concerned applications into the State, while 83 cases concerned applications from the State to other countries;
nOf the 129 cases still active from 2011, 60 were incoming and 69 outgoing;
n124 incoming cases and 152 outgoing cases were being processed by the Irish Central Authority in liaison with other national central authorities;
nOf the 147 new cases, 68 involved the UK, 14 involved Poland, 12 involved Latvia, 36 concerned other European countries, and 17 other contracting states (USA, Canada, Australia, and South Africa).
Mr Shatter said the Family Mediation Service had now become part of the Legal Aid Board and this may help families to reach agreement without having to resort to court.
“I would encourage any family in such a situation to access these services and to do so as soon as possible. I will continue to work to improve the measures available to families including through the mediation bill which is currently being drafted.”
