Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - Attempted Child Abductions.

Ms Fitzgerald

It has been reported in the media in recent days that an urgent Garda warning has been issued to parents on attempted child abductions, primarily in the Dublin area. This raises the most serious questions. Will the Minister outline the scale of the problem? How many reports have the Garda Síochána received of attempted abductions of children in the Dublin area? How many have there been outside it? Where have they happened? Has there been a dramatic increase in recent weeks as reported and, if so, what is the explanation for it? What progress has been made by the Garda Síochána in investigating these attempted abductions and has anybody been charged?

These warnings strike terror into the heart of every parent. While it is important not to raise undue alarm, the fact that the Garda Síochána has seen fit to issue a warning is alarming in itself. It has the most serious implications for children. What advice is there for parents and have schools been approached and given information? We all want our children to enjoy the freedom to travel to and from school, to play with their friends and to take part in recreational activities without undue fear. If there is a serious escalation in attempted abductions, extra precautions will have to be taken by all concerned.

Is, as reported, the lack of a register of known child sex offenders impacting on the situation? One newspaper went so far as to report that paedophiles from other countries were settling here to prey on Irish children. Is there evidence of paedophile rings operating in Dublin or other parts of the country? The Minister should make a clear and comprehensive statement on this serious issue so that all concerned can deal with it in the best possible way and take whatever steps are necessary to protect children.

Mr. O'Donoghue

I am aware that a number of reports have recently been made to the Garda Síochána concerning approaches to children while out alone, either playing or on their way home from school. I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are taking each of these reports seriously and that each of the incidents is being thoroughly investigated.

While I am aware of speculation in the media concerning the reports, I understand the Garda investigations are at too early a stage for concrete conclusions to be drawn as to the identity of the persons responsible. Nothing should be said or done at this early stage which may have the effect of prejudicing the outcome of an ongoing Garda inquiry.

On 11 December the Garda press office issued a press release on these incidents. It reminded parents that with the long dark evenings and the approach of the school holidays they should talk to their children about personal safety. Parents should know the whereabouts of their children at all times and try to avoid putting their children in a position where they have to wait alone outside school for collection.

The Garda Síochána also recommends that children should be reminded about their personal safety and told not to approach strangers in cars while travelling to and from school or while out playing; not to play alone or become isolated from other friends; to wear bright reflective clothing during the hours of darkness, and not to take sweets, lifts or talk to strangers without their parents' consent.

The Department of Education and Science has developed a range of programmes dealing with aspects of social and personal safety which are part of the ordinary curriculum in primary and post-primary schools. One such programme is the Stay Safe programme which is taught in a number of primary schools. Every community should keep an eye on its children's safety and neighbourhood schemes such as neighbourhood watch and community alert could play an important role in the sightings of persons acting suspiciously.

In the case of serious assaults of a sexual nature against children I published a discussion paper earlier this year on the law of sexual offences which includes a chapter on the sexual abuse of children. I am considering submissions on this document. This is an issue which the Government treats most seriously. It is my intention to introduce a set of comprehensive criminal law reform proposals in this area.

I have indicated my intention to establish a register of sex offenders to complement the existing recording arrangements in place by the Garda Síochána. I have received a considerable number of submissions as to what the nature of this register should be. For example, some would favour a register containing details of all sex offenders while others believe that it should be confined to details of those convicted of paedophile type offences. I will carefully consider all the options in this respect before coming to a decision on the final shape of the register. In the meantime reports of attempted abductions are taken seriously by the Garda Síochána.

The Dáil adjourned at 11.10 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 16 December 1998.