176.— (1) An application made under the Adoption Acts to An Bord Uchtála for—

(a) an adoption order, or

(b) the recognition of an adoption effected outside the State,

before the establishment day that was not determined before that day shall, on that day, be deemed to be an application for an adoption order, or the recognition of an intercountry adoption effected outside the State, as the case may be, under this Act and this Act shall apply to the application accordingly.

(2) An application made under the Adoption Acts by a person or persons for an assessment of his, her or their eligibility and suitability to adopt a child before the establishment day that was not determined before that day shall, on that day, be deemed to be an application for such an assessment and the issuance of a declaration of eligibility and suitability under this Act and this Act shall apply to the application accordingly.

(3) If An Bord Uchtála has taken steps, before the establishment day, to satisfy itself that a person or persons were eligible or suitable to adopt a child under the Adoption Acts but has not determined the eligibility or suitability of that person or those persons before that day, the person or persons concerned shall be deemed to have made an application for an assessment of his, her or their eligibility and suitability under this Act and this Act shall apply accordingly.

(4) Anything commenced but not completed before the commencement of Part 13 by a registered adoption society (within the meaning of section 3 of the Adoption Act 1952) under the Adoption Acts may be carried on and completed by such a body of persons under this Act if the body of persons is registered in the register of accredited bodies in respect of the activity concerned.

(5) A summons, notice or other document issued or given under the Adoption Acts to any person by An Bord Uchtála before the establishment day shall, on or after that day, be regarded as a summons, notice or other document issued or given by the Authority to the person under the corresponding provision of this Act.

(6) A notice or other document sent or given under the Adoption Acts by any person to An Bord Uchtála or the F109[Child and Family Agency] before the establishment day shall, on or after that day, be regarded as a notice or other document sent or given to the Authority or the F109[Child and Family Agency], as the case may be, under the corresponding provision of this Act.