Commissioner, I have the pleasure of joining you today for this important and significant launch of Child Rescue Ireland Alert on International Missing Children’s Day.
I want to acknowledge the valuable work which has been done by An Garda Síochána and the vital contribution of the external agencies involved in achieving the implementation of the alert system.
I also wish to welcome the Transition students from Davis College, Mallow who I had the pleasure of meeting recently. I wish to commend them again on their continuing efforts in their ‘Forget me Not’ campaign which raises awareness about missing persons in Ireland.
As the Commissioner has outlined, the key to an effective and relevant alert system for missing children is that it is only activated where a child has been abducted and there is a reasonable belief that there is an immediate and serious risk to the health and welfare of the child, and there is sufficient information for the public to assist in locating the child. This allows for the Alert system to have maximum impact.
Thankfully, the need to use this system will not arise frequently. However, it is vital that we have an effective and appropriate response system in place to help locate a child who has gone missing as quickly as possible.
I wish to acknowledge that the development of such an alert system is complex, and, as the Commissioner has already stated, requires a multi-agency approach.
A crucial component of an effective alert system is the ability to rapidly communicate a message through television, radio, at airports and ports, and via text and email. It provides An Garda Síochána with access to the speedy means of disseminating key information during the critical period immediately after a child is reported missing. In this regard, I welcome the signing of memorandums of understanding between An Garda Síochána and the key agencies who would be involved in the event of such an alert.
I wish to sincerely echo the Commissioner’s gratitude for the assistance of all those engaged in achieving the roll-out of this system. Despite the resource constraints under which we are all required to operate, the establishment of this collaborative alert system demonstrates the way we can work together in a constructive manner to deliver tangible benefits to the wider public. The development and implementation of this system would not have been possible without the invaluable work and cooperation of the agencies involved.
I also welcome the cooperation agreed between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI that should an alert be triggered in either jurisdiction, the other force will be informed regardless of whether or not the child has crossed the border.
I am sure you will agree that it is fitting that we are here today announcing the launch of Child Rescue Ireland Alert on International Missing Children’s day and while we fervently hope that incidents will not arise which necessitate the alert being activated, it is reassuring that such a system is in place to protect children should it be required.
As the Commissioner has pointed out, the introduction of an alert system reflects good international practice and is in keeping with the recommendations of the Council of Europe and the Garda Inspectorate. But it is also something which many families who have suffered the disappearance of a child have called for. The system will not replace the need for painstaking investigative work on the part of the Gardaí but it does provide a mechanism to harness public support in the most effective way possible. When a child goes missing in these circumstances there is huge public sympathy for the family. This system gets information out quickly and accurately so as to take advantage of that support and is a significant step forward. I would like to again congratulate the Commissioner and all of those involved in its design and implementation.
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