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A new protocol which sets out the roles and responsibilities of key agencies dealing with missing children has been signed.

The Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy and Professor Brendan Drumm, chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive (HSE), signed the protocol at a ceremony held at Garda Headquarters in Dublin this morning.

The joint protocol provides clearly defined arrangements for addressing issues arising from children in care who go missing and sets out the principle actions to be taken by both organisations when a missing child report is made.

An important aspect of the new protocol is the establishment of a Garda liaison role with the HSE care placements at a local level.

In each Garda district in which a HSE children’s care home is situated, a designated sergeant is to be appointed who will liaise with the care home and co-ordinate inquiries with the Garda Missing Persons Bureau.

The joint protocol was among 18 recommendations contained in a Garda Síochána Inspectorate Missing Persons Review and Recommendations report which was published last week.

Among the other recommendations in that report was the establishment of an urgent alert system to help find missing or abducted children. Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has since confirmed that an 'Amber Alert' system is to be introduced in Ireland.

Welcoming the new protocol, Prof Brendan Drumm said that the protocol would further strengthen co-operation between both organisations in their efforts to safeguard children.