Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator O'Toole's call that the Minister of State with responsibility for children come before the House to discuss the operation of the 116000 number, the established EU common number relating to missing children. The great advantage of the freedom of travel Europe offers has ironically presented a real danger to children who go missing. The established common helpline number for missing children ensures there is practical support available for such children, regardless of the country in which they find themselves. If something happens to a child, he or she can use the 116000 number to make immediate contact. Some 11 EU countries have put the number into operation, but all member states, including Ireland, have signed up to its introduction. At a bizarre meeting of the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources representatives of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and ComReg indicated that they had done their bit to ensure the number was up and running but that it was not, in fact, operational. Members who attended the meeting could not identify with whom the responsibility for making it operational lay. We did establish that from next year Ireland would promote the number and introduce legislation placing a legal imperative on the authorities here to do so. However, the number will not be operational. There cannot be a situation where there is a common helpline number for the 27 member states of the European Union but where people must guess the countries in which it is in operation. We cannot promote a number that is not operational. Not only would this be a waste of money, it would also be the source of real danger for children who go missing. I ask that the Minister of State come before us to discuss the matter.

I support Senator Mary White's comments on World Mental Health Day. The Senator referred to some of the programmes operated in this area, particularly the ASIST programme. I do not wish to over-simplify matters, but as the Senator was talking, I was struck by the fact - particularly in the context of the times in which we live - no one really knew what were the personal circumstances of others they might meet. We will never know the value of a kind word or smile.