Mick Parker
Aspects of the parens patriae jurisdiction were given a statutory basis in the nineteenth century and a Court of Protection was established with the authority to protect the affairs of "adults lacking legal capacity". In Ireland, jurisdiction over the affairs of adults lacking legal capacity is still contained in a nineteenth century statute. The Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871 provides that the wardship jurisdiction arises in relation to a person found to be �of unsound mind", and incapable of managing himself or his affairs.