Commentary on Sections Part 1 - Adoption Chapter 2 – The Adoption Service Section 8: Inactive or defunct adoption societies, etc.
Section 8 empowers the Department to direct the relevant adoption authority to take action where an appropriate voluntary organisation is inactive or defunct or where a body has ceased to be an appropriate voluntary organisation by virtue of the cancellation of its registration under Part 3 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 and it has not made such arrangements for the transfer of its functions relating to children as are specified in a direction given by the Department. Before giving such a direction the Department, if practicable, should consult with both the organisation and the adoption authority. It also enables the Department to charge the organisation for the expenses necessarily incurred by it or on its behalf as a result of its failure to make appropriate arrangements.