Feargal Quinn (Independent)

Five years ago the European Union established a missing children's hotline and we debated it here last year. The EU urged every one of the nations of Europe to introduce the hotline 116000 and it can be contacted immediately when a child goes missing. A few minutes ago I telephoned the number and it still has not been set up in Ireland even though it has been set up in most European states. Last October we were told that the money had been allocated for it yet it still has not been established. Today or tomorrow is the annual missing children's day and it is a date by which we should have complied with the European rule. We have the money, the allocation of time and the ability to do it but we have not done so yet. I ask the Deputy Leader to find out what has delayed the establishment of a hotline and why we do not have it. A missing child needs all of the help that his or her family can get and the hotline should be established here just like most of the other states in the European community.

This year I spent time in Drogheda and its people decided to get together and do what they could, through working together, to achieve success. Yesterday, the first cruise ship docked in Drogheda where it will remain for a day to allow its crew and tourists visit the Boyne Valley. I also discovered that tomorrow the first of this year's cruise ships will arrive in Killybegs, the first of 12 cruise ships that will dock there this year. Last year when I was in Cobh I saw so many cruise ships arrive in its harbour. It was so interesting to see the ability of different towns in Ireland and how they encouraged and developed this type of tourism. The people of Drogheda have shown that they can get together and take action rather than hope that the Government, tourist board or Fáilte Ireland will do it. The people of Drogheda, Dublin and Killybegs have been successful and let us ensure that they copy what Cobh has done for years. We can achieve it ourselves without having to seek help.