Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Chair for giving me an opportunity to raise this important issue. I thank the Minister of State for attending the House to respond.

The issue I wish to raise is the need for a national hotline dealing with missing children. I cannot imagine the pain and loss experienced by the family of someone who goes missing. Families do not know what has happened to the children, where they are and whether they are alive. As difficult as it is to live every day of the rest of one's life wondering whether today will be the day a loved one returns through the door or gardaí visit with sad news, I cannot begin to imagine what it is like for the families of children who go missing. Children are vulnerable and, in many instances, unable to fend for themselves alone.

It has been internationally established that hotline numbers have a critical role to play in the search for missing children. In Ireland, more than 424 children have gone missing from the care of the HSE in recent years. We have not yet undertaken a national campaign to establish their safety and whereabouts. The provision of a hotline would play an important role, in that it would be a central number through which anyone with information regarding the children could make contact. It would also send an important message, namely, we take child protection seriously and Ireland is not a soft target for trafficking.

The establishment of a hotline number in respect of missing children would provide an immediate point of contact for any child who goes missing. It is also something we agreed to do when we signed up to the EU common number, 116000, which is operational in several EU countries. The idea is that, no matter where one is in Europe, ringing that number will link one to the hotline. However, it is not yet operational in Ireland despite the fact we awarded the use of the number to an organisation following invitations for submissions. I would appreciate an update from the Minister of State regarding the provision and operation of the number. It should be done on an all-island basis.