Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 July 2018
272. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the case of a person (details supplied) is closed; if it is being treated as a historical missing person case; and if the complete file on the investigation by An Garda Síochána will be sent to the person's sibling. [31406/18]
View answerI wish to acknowledge the suffering that has been endured by the relatives of the missing person referred to by the Deputy, and indeed by the loved ones of all missing persons.
I understand that the brother of the missing person referred to by name in the 'Details Supplied' accompanying this parliamentary question spoke at Ireland's annual national Missing Persons Day ceremony in 2015.
The Deputy may be aware that a facility to collect DNA samples has been in place at the annual, commemorative ceremony for the past two years, operated by An Garda Síochána and Forensic Science Ireland. It is intended to provide a DNA sample collection facility again at this year's ceremony, which will take place on 5 December 2018.
All samples collected on national Missing Persons Day are uploaded to the DNA Database, which acts as a repository of DNA profiles from unidentified remains, missing persons (DNA from clothing or personal belonging) and relatives of missing persons. As profiles are generated from unidentified remains they are routinely checked against these family samples in the hope of finding a match and establishing an identification.
I have requested a report from An Garda Síochána in relation to the missing person referred to by the Deputy and I will be in contact with the Deputy directly on receipt of this report.
