Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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151. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the supports in place for families at risk of international child abduction; if she will review the supports in place and ensure that assistance is available to families at risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19826/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The International Child Abduction Unit is the Central Authority within my Department that provides assistance to parents and guardians of children who have been removed from the jurisdiction without their consent. This unit is a transmitting and receiving agency for applications for the return of children to the jurisdiction under the 1980 Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 of 27 November 2003. Applications to establish and/or enforce court orders concerning access rights to children are also dealt with under the aforementioned international instruments. The International Child Abduction Unit can only provide assistance when children have been taken to EU Member States or to countries that have are party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Parents and guardians who have any concerns regarding the legality of parental separation should seek legal advice without delay.

In 2015, a cross-Department/Agency group was established to discuss a number of issues relating to child abduction generally, including raising awareness in relation to child abduction. It is intended to organise a further meeting of this group before July. Arising from the work of this group, I expect to be in a position to publish a cross-agency information leaflet very shortly, which deals, among other aspects, with what should be done when parents or guardians have concerns about potential child abduction.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provide assistance when children are removed to a country that is not party to the 1980 Hague Convention.

Where parents or guardians have concerns about potential abduction, they should alert their local Garda station and through them inform Irish airports, ports and Interpol. An Garda Síochána are the relevant authority to report child abductions to Interpol. Parents are advised to seek legal advice in Ireland on their options. They or their solicitor may also contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Passport Office to request the children be added to the passport stop-list or request to be informed if the other parent applies for passports for the children. In cases where the children may qualify for another state’s passport, they may contact that state’s Embassy and request that passports not be issued. Parents may also apply to the Court requesting that it direct who should hold the passports, e.g. the concerned parent him- or herself, the Gardaí, the courts etc.

Parents concerned about cross-border child abduction by strangers should take all normal precautions such as familiarising themselves with the AMBER alert system, keeping medical and photographic records up to date and making online safety a priority.

As the Deputy is aware, responsibility for effectiveness and responsiveness in child welfare and protection systems generally, in the context of the services that the Department provides, lies with my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.