Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the improved measures but I am really shocked by the number of children still missing. According to these figures, just fewer than 400 children have gone missing from the care of the HSE. While I appreciate the detail in this reply, particularly with regard to protocols and procedures for the future, it is very difficult to get a sense of what is being done for the 400 children who are still missing. My concern is that this indicates that Ireland could easily be perceived as a soft location for people who wish to traffic children and, from that perspective, the reply is alarming.

I appreciate the Minister of State is replying on behalf of her colleagues but I note full figures are only available for 2006 in the case of Irish children. I ask that the figures for 2007 and 2008 be forwarded when they become available. I note the report says there can be complex reasons for children to go missing and some reasons reflect in-care experience or other social factors. However, there is no sense in the report that we have tried to establish the reason in the cases of each of these children. I ask the Minister of State to refer this to her colleagues as a matter of urgency. The Minister of State may not have the information to hand but, if possible, I ask that the inspectorate of residential services for children be treated as a matter of urgency and that the reunification process for reuniting children with their families be reviewed.