Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Question 4: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the removal of a child (details supplied) from his mother at Dublin Airport on 15 August 2009 and of the deportation to Nigeria of the child's mother on 1 September 2009; his views on whether it is appropriate that a four year old child never previously apart from his mother be taken from her in such circumstances at Dublin Airport and remain totally alone in this State under the care of the Health Service Executive; if consideration was given to the distress caused to the child and both the immediate and long-term damage to the child's welfare that may result; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that the child is an Irish citizen born here on 21 August 2005 and that since the events at Dublin Airport, the child has had numerous social workers involved in considering his circumstances, has been cared for in a variety of placements at taxpayers' expense and subject to events that can only be harmful to the child; and if he will take immediate action to facilitate family reunification between the child and his mother by permitting her return here. [46388/09]

See this speech in context