Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not think there is a person on any side of this House, or in Ireland, who is not both utterly horrified and heartbroken at what is emerging in relation to the case of young Kyran Durnin. This is nothing to do with political establishment or any sort of rhetoric. This is just to do with basic humanity. An eight-year-old boy effectively went missing for two years and the saddest and most painful thing is that nobody asked why or where he was for that period of time. Any one of us thinking that this could happen to any child is deeply upsetting. Let me say at the outset that this is absolutely going to require a structure to get to the exact bottom of this; of that there is no doubt. However, right now, we have to be very conscious of the fact that An Garda Síochána is very actively investigating this. To say there is a live investigation under way would capture it. An Garda Síochána has appealed to the public for information. I echoed that appeal today. A murder investigation has been commenced. While no arrests have been made at this point, the investigation is ongoing. It is being led by a senior investigation officer based out of an incident room established at Drogheda Garda station. An Garda Síochána is appealing to anyone who has any information in connection with the disappearance of Kyran to contact Drogheda Garda station, the Garda confidential line or, indeed, any Garda station. I know vigils were held in both Drogheda and Dundalk over the weekend and it is clear the whole community in Louth has been deeply affected. We are very conscious that this is ongoing. I am also conscious that An Garda is current investigating this case and liaising with Tusla as part of that investigation. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has confirmed that he has asked Tusla to send this case to the National Review Panel. Just as the Deputy quoted from some of its reports, the role of the National Review Panel is to examine the circumstances surrounding the death of any child who has links to the caring structure of the State. This is not in relation to Deputy Tóibín but I am conscious when any case such as this comes to public view obviously people speculate and discuss it, sometimes from a place of good. It is important though that we afford the State agencies the space they need to investigate the matter fully. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection in Ireland. Under Children First, everyone has a role to play in ensuring the welfare and the safety of children. Information on how to report any concern about any child, whether as a mandated report or a concerned neighbour, family member or member of the public, can be found on Tusla's website.

I am not suggesting Deputy Tóibín conflated the issue but he quite rightly brought up a broader issue in respect of children in care and what happens when a child in care goes missing. Tusla has advised it prepares an absence management plan for each child in care and this plan is a tool to manage the risk in the event of a child going missing. Perhaps I can come back in on that in my second answer. I am sure the Oireachtas children's committee will, in due course, wish to discuss this issue.

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