SEANAD REPORT:WHILE WELCOMING the commitment of Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald to bring into operation the 116000 missing children phone number, Aideen Hayden (Lab) said she was concerned about caveats surrounding the Minister's undertaking.

It was not good enough to say that the service might be in operation next year or that its start-up was dependent on identifying partnerships and funding. The House would like to see a firm commitment by the Minister.

Ms Hayden said it was a national disgrace that Ireland had been so slow to act on this. There had been too much emphasis on identifying a suitable non-governmental organisation to operate the service. Why had the Garda not been tasked to set up this helpline?

Over 500 unaccompanied children who had come here seeking asylum had gone missing from the care of the State since 2000, 440 of whom had never been located.

Ms Fitzgerald said it was hoped to have the hotline activated during 2012. She was unable to say what the cost would be as estimates varied widely. The project team would look at the level of usage in other countries and the cost involved.

Jillian van Turnhout (Ind), who was praised on both sides of the House for her endeavours to get the hotline up and running, said its efficacy had been demonstrated in other countries.

David Cullinane (SF) called on a Labour Senator to withdraw “a disgraceful slur” on the Northern Assembly. During the debate on the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill, Mr Cullinane said that despite a £4 billion spending cut by the Tory government, £80 million had been found by the Assembly to invest in community services.

“Did any of it come from the Northern Bank?” Jimmy Harte asked. Mr Cullinane said Mr Harte’s comment showed that the Labour Party was under pressure.

The Bill passed the second stage.