On behalf of the Social Democrats, I express our absolute revulsion at the threats made against the Tánaiste and his family. They have absolutely no place and are strongly condemned by us all. I want him to know that we will work with him to do everything we can to ensure these kind of threats against our democracy are not in any way tolerated. I extend our deepest condolences to all those who knew, loved and cared for Daniel Aruebose. Yesterday, after a long search, the remains of Daniel were found in Donabate. Daniel had been missing for four years before the State noticed he was gone. He was much more than the tragic circumstances of his death and disappearance. I thank TheJournal.ie for publishing a very moving interview with his foster sister telling us more about him. She said: He was the sweetest little baby ever, we were all absolutely beside ourselves ... He was so cute ... He was so clever. I obviously might be a little biased, but he already had a strong personality, he loved dancing, he loved laughing, and he loved showing off that he understood you. Like we’d go ‘where’s the light?’ and he’d know from only a few months old, he’d point up at the light. He was just a very clever baby. His foster sister said the picture released does not reflect the happy child she knew who brightened every room he entered. She wants people to know that Daniel was special and loved. I will not get into the investigation into this tragedy. We do not yet know what happened, but we do know that something went very seriously wrong. A bright and bubbly child died and disappeared and no one noticed. Sadly, this is not the only time this has happened. Kyran Durnin disappeared in 2022 and is presumed dead. Nobody noticed he was missing until late last year. It is horrifying that children can simply disappear in this country. Tusla is conducting a rapid review of its interactions with Daniel's family and has referred the case to a national review panel, but that is not good enough. An independent statutory review should be triggered in every case of a child known to Tusla who disappears. This is the bare minimum these children deserve. This is not to apportion blame. It is to find out what went wrong, to make sure it never happens again and to prevent more children disappearing and dying. Daniel was failed in life. Let us not fail him in death. Will the Government establish a statutory review into this tragedy? What is being done to support the community in Donabate who are grieving and in shock, as is the entire country?

Sentiment score: -0.13

I thank the Tánaiste for his response. I join with him in his comments on the gardaí and front-line workers and the excellent work they have been doing. The Irish Association of Social Workers has called for a full statutory review. The Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon has expressed extreme concern over the State's response. Dr. Muldoon asked: "How could a child have been born, dealt with all the relevant agencies and services, and then apparently, just disappear?" He went on to say: "The National Review Panel was never established on a statutory basis and this fundamental flaw has greatly impacted its ability to undertake its work effectively." He is not the only one to criticise the national review panel. Since 2018, both Tusla and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality have said that it is not fit for purpose. The national review panel has no statutory power, no powers to access information and no independent authority to publish reports so it has long gone past needing to have reviews on a statutory basis with proper powers when a child goes missing. We have known this since 2018. The Ombudsman for Children has said it, the Department has said it and Tusla has said it so will the Tánaiste commit to what we have all known since 2018 which is there needs to be statutory reviews when this happens and children known to Tusla go missing?

Sentiment score: -0.00