12.—(1) The F9[Child and Family Agency] shall, for the purposes of ensuring that, so far as is practicable—

(a) the activities of the F9[Child and Family Agency], and those of a relevant authority, in so far as they relate to a function of the F9[Child and Family Agency], are coordinated, and

(b) the policies of the F9[Child and Family Agency], and those of a relevant authority, in so far as they relate to a function of the F9[Child and Family Agency], are consistent,

designate one or more of its officers, not below such rank as the Minister shall determine (who or each of whom shall be known as and is referred to in this section as a “liaison officer”), to liaise with such persons as are designated under subsections (2) and (3), and an officer so designated shall for those purposes, perform such functions as are assigned to him or her by the F9[Child and Family Agency].

(2) A relevant authority (other than F10[the Health Service Executive], F11[an education and training board], the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment or the National Youth Work Advisory Committee) shall for the purposes specified in subsection (1), designate one of his or her officers or a member of his or her staff, as may be appropriate, not below such rank as the Minister shall, after consultation with the relevant authority concerned, determine, to liaise with a liaison officer, and an officer or member of staff so designated shall for those purposes, perform such functions as are assigned to him or her by the relevant authority concerned.

(3) The Chief Executive Officer of a relevant authority (other than a relevant authority to which subsection (2) applies) shall for the purposes specified in subsection (1), designate an officer or member of staff, as may be appropriate, of the relevant authority concerned, not below such rank as the Minister shall, after consultation with the Chief Executive Officer concerned, determine, to liaise with a liaison officer, and an officer or member of staff so designated shall for those purposes, perform such functions as are assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer concerned.

(4) A person designated under this section by a relevant authority shall provide the F9[Child and Family Agency] with such information as to the policies and activities of the relevant authority concerned in so far as they relate to a function of the F9[Child and Family Agency], as the F9[Child and Family Agency] requests or, where the F9[Child and Family Agency] has not requested such information, as the relevant authority considers appropriate.

(5) Subsection (4) of this section does not apply to information in the possession of a member of the Garda Síochána held for the purpose of preventing, detecting or investigating offences, or apprehending or prosecuting persons who have committed, or who are believed by a member of the Garda Síochána to have committed, offences.

(6) For the purposes of this section, each of the following shall be a relevant authority, that is to say:

(a) the Minister for Health and Children;

(b) the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs;

(c) the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform;

(d) the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment;

(e) the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands;

(f) the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána;

(g) F10[the Health Service Executive];

F11[(h) an education and training board;]

(i) the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment;

(j) the National Youth Work Advisory Committee; and

(k) such other persons as may be prescribed by the Minister.