Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Last June, the Children's Rights Alliance called on the Taoiseach to use his powers under the Statistics Act 1993 to instruct the CSO to access and to scrutinise the HSE child death records in order that we would have full information, full disclosure and accountability and the facts and figures we were seeking with difficulty during that time. Under section 25 of the Act, the Taoiseach of the day is empowered to instruct the CSO to seek and secure specific information at any given time and the CSO is empowered under such an instruction to require of individuals or bodies that they fully comply with said request. It is apparent that the Taoiseach did not exercise that power on this occasion. Was serious consideration given to the proposition by him at the time, given the great difficulty there was establishing the full facts relating to child deaths in State care? Perhaps the Minister of State does not know and it would be unfair of me to expect him to answer here today. However, if he cannot reply, will he please establish the factual position? Has the power contained in section 25 ever been employed by this or a former Taoiseach since its enactment?

With regard to preparation for next year's census, will consideration be given to the inclusion of a question or questions relating to immigration? It is important that we try to establish factually what is the situation with immigration. Last week the Minister of State almost applauded the fact that 5,400 fewer people were on the live register, yet the greater number of those and more besides contributed to that change in the figures by taking the only course open to them in the current economic climate, which was, sadly and regrettably, to head to our ports and airports and, hopefully, depart for job opportunities in other locations. Will consideration be given to the inclusion of the following questions for the returns of families - "Did any member of your family emigrate over the past 12 months, two years or five years? If so, to what destination?". It would be a useful exercise, which would inform the factual situation regarding the real impact and effect of the failure so far to introduce a job sustaining and job creation strategy on the part of Government.

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