I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 233 together.
The failure of duty by parents towards their children in any particular circumstances and the action to be taken in such cases to protect the welfare of the children involved are matters for the relevant health board under the Child Care Act 1991 and not for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Consequently, my Department does not have any statistics on such occurrences and the actions taken in such cases.
Irish born children who are Irish citizens cannot be deported so the question of their involuntary removal from the State does not arise. Notwithstanding the expectation that non-national parents being deported will voluntarily take their Irish born children with them, there are no circumstances in which I can direct such Irish children to leave the State: I have neither the power nor the desire to make such a direction. Further, I will not interfere with a decision arrived at in good faith by a non-national parent being deported who decides to leave the Irish child behind, having made arrangements that the parent considers suitable for the care of the child.