Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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362. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the protocol in place to assess whether an unaccompanied minor is being trafficked when they arrive into an Irish port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7411/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The International Protection Office, An Garda Síochána or the Border Management Unit contact Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, when separated children seeking international protection arrive at an Irish port, to assess the child’s circumstances.

Under Tusla’s obligations of the Child Care Act, 1991, and Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, 2015, Tusla considers the risk of harm that a young person(s) may be in, including working with other state agencies on the possibility that the child may have been trafficked.

Tusla’s assessment of the child’s circumstances includes an assessment into how the child arrived in Ireland, and includes any concerns in relation to child trafficking. Separated children may present for reunification, sometimes with an agent, to be reunified with a family member in Ireland or the UK.

If required, the child is received into care until a more extensive child protection and welfare assessment can be undertaken and interagency working continues as required. If the outcome of the Social Work assessment is that the child is at risk of harm and should not be reunified with the alleged guardian/parent, then in accordance with Tusla/An Garda Síochána joint protocol, Tusla forwards notifications of child abuse (indicating suspected trafficking) to An Garda Síochána, who determine if a crime has been committed and any criminal investigations into trafficking.