Sharon Keogan (Independent)

I support the amendment. Shockingly, a report released today by Missing Children Europe tells us a child disappears in Europe every two minutes. We need to think about that. There are many reasons children disappear, including that they run away, there is parent abduction or as a result of child migration. Indeed, Europe has seen 50,000 unaccompanied minors over the past year. There could be criminal abductions or children may be lost or injured. There are various reasons for children going missing but some of them are targeted through online grooming and are then trafficked and sexually abused and exploited. Let us do the right thing by implementing this legislation. It seeks to protect children right up to the age of 18, which is why I stand with Senator Flynn and her colleagues on it. I welcome support for it by the Government.