Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Ombudsman for Children, Ms Emily Logan, will shortly publish a report detailing her findings and recommendations on the circumstances in which two children were wrongly taken from their families in Tallaght and Athlone last October. The children - a girl aged seven and a wee boy aged two - were taken from their parents who are members of the Roma community, after it was reported that they might not be the families' own children. These claims were totally and completely unfounded. There appeared to be no other reason for the children being taken from their families other than that they were fair-haired and members of the Roma community. DNA tests subsequently proved that the children were indeed members of their families.

I am sure the Taoiseach will appreciate that this was a highly traumatic experience for the children and their families. It was also an abuse of process and a direct attack on the constitutional and human rights of the children and their families. In my view, this happened because of a prejudiced and racist opinion of the Roma community. As our society becomes more diverse we need detailed integration strategies for the Roma community in Ireland and for other communities.

The Athlone family still does not know where their child was taken that night. They are suing the State for breach of constitutional rights, false imprisonment, neglect, damages for mental distress and possibly defamation. Will the Taoiseach make it clear that he does not intend to waste taxpayers' money defending this case? On behalf of the State, will he apologise to these two families?

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