Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an action plan in relation to a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35362/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I have been in direct contact with the person referred to by the Deputy. Following my request to the Garda Síochána Inspectorate to assess the need to establish a dedicated Missing Persons Unit within An Garda Síochána, including a response similar to Amber Alert, and to report their findings to me, the Inspectorate published its report earlier this year. One of its main recommendations was that an emergency alert system for missing children, similar to the Amber Alert system in place in other countries, should be established. I gave the go ahead for the implementation of this recommendation, and it is being advanced by An Garda Síochána. As the Inspectorate's report recognises, this is a challenging task which requires the support of a range of government agencies, NGOs and private sector representatives.