Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the context of the planning for the event, we are engaging generally in the lead-in to it with the media and we hope the broadcast and print media will be encouraged to contribute to the importance of the event and to draw attention to individuals who are missing in the hope that information will be made available to the Garda Síochána or family members. In the days leading up to the event, I hope there will be increased public knowledge in the area to the benefit of the families concerned.

It is my hope that this will be the first event of this nature. It is my hope that, as our European Union colleagues look in, we can get to the point where we agree a missing persons day across the European Union. When people go missing in Ireland, it may well be that they are in other European Union countries. Engagement across the EU of the broadcast and print media may well result in the whereabouts of individuals becoming known when their whereabouts have not been known for some time. I look forward to the event. After the event on the designated day, I look forward to feedback about changes or initiatives that we should include in the event when we run it for the second year.

See this speech in context