Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

78. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for the first National Missing Persons Day and its objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45973/13]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The question arises in respect of the Minister's plans for the national missing persons day, its roll-out and operation. It arises from the initiative of the transition year students from Davis College, Mallow, County Cork and the forget me not campaign. That the national missing persons day will take place this year is a great tribute to them.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that planning for Ireland's first national missing persons day is at an advanced stage with an inaugural event to be held at Farmleigh House, Dublin on the morning of Wednesday, 4 December 2013. I am pleased we have been able to advance rapidly a proposal from Davis College and missing persons representative groups, who also sought such an event. The initiative of Davis College was extremely important.

The missing persons day is being developed with a number of objectives. First and foremost, it is intended the day will recognise and remember those who have gone missing and the lasting trauma and impact on their families and friends. The day will also draw public attention to open or unsolved missing persons cases with the possibility that new information may come to light. It is also intended to highlight information on the range of support services available and to recognise the contribution of the voluntary groups that provide support in the community to families, as well as the many organisations involved in land, mountain, sea and river rescue. It is also my intention to promote the proposal I made during the Irish Presidency for a European-wide event and to call attention to Ireland's missing persons day as the basis for similar initiatives across Europe. We have had contacts with a number of our European partner countries in this context. I look forward to joining with the Garda Commissioner, the families and friends of missing persons, and the many voluntary organisations working in our communities on this important occasion of remembrance and support.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This has the potential to be an important day for the families who do not know what has happened to their loved ones. Anything that can raise awareness, possibly through the attention this receives throughout Europe, is helpful to reconnect people with their families. That is vitally important and I wish the event well.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.