Published Wednesday, 11 July, 2007 at 11:03 AM
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Minister praises outstanding effort to get Irish baby home
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle today praised the efforts of Child Safety Department staff and others who overcame “unusual difficulties” to reunify an abandoned baby with his Irish family.
“A baby in this situation has no birth certificate, no citizenship, no passport, no visa and no official status,” Ms Boyle said.
Speaking at the Estimates Committee hearing Ms Boyle confirmed media reports that a Child Safety worker accompanied the baby on a flight to Ireland on May 22. This cost about $6000 for airfares, accommodation, meals and car hire.
Ms Boyle, who was at Brisbane Airport to farewell the baby, said it was money well spent.
“After a string of abandoned baby cases across Australia this is one story with a positive ending and it highlights the great work of foster carers and child safety staff.
The media have reported that the baby was found in a toilet block at Chevron Renaissance at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast on March 5.
In an attempt to locate the mother police released security video of a woman leaving the centre’s car park. Media reports then indicated that the woman was identified as an Irish citizen who had returned to Ireland.
“No child is returned to their family without an assessment that this is in the best interests of the child and this case was no exception.
“As those assessments were being made child safety staff also had to deal with the paperwork problems associated with a baby of foreign parents not born in a hospital.
“In cases such as these, first a birth certificate has to be obtained, then negotiations proceed with Ireland to obtain Irish citizenship and have an Irish passport issued.
“Then visa information has to be issued to confirm that the baby was legally here in the first place.
“Our staff made dozens of phone calls to deal with these unusual circumstances and they tell me the Australian Immigration Department and the Irish Embassy are to be congratulated for their outstanding co-operation.
An Irish newspaper has quoted a family member as saying they are delighted to have the baby home and he is very healthy.
“I can confirm that he thrived in foster care and when he left Queensland, aged three months, he weighed 7 kilograms.
“His foster carers gave him a Saint Christopher bracelet so that he would have a safe trip and he was blessed by a Catholic priest the day before the flight.
“The child safety officer who took him to Ireland visited the baby regularly in the weeks before departure so that he would be comfortable in her care for the journey.
“So congratulations to all involved. To overcome unusual problems and return a happy, healthy baby to his Irish family in just three months is a great achievement and highlights the great work of the Child Safety Department,” Ms Boyle said.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
11 July 2007
“A baby in this situation has no birth certificate, no citizenship, no passport, no visa and no official status,” Ms Boyle said.
Speaking at the Estimates Committee hearing Ms Boyle confirmed media reports that a Child Safety worker accompanied the baby on a flight to Ireland on May 22. This cost about $6000 for airfares, accommodation, meals and car hire.
Ms Boyle, who was at Brisbane Airport to farewell the baby, said it was money well spent.
“After a string of abandoned baby cases across Australia this is one story with a positive ending and it highlights the great work of foster carers and child safety staff.
The media have reported that the baby was found in a toilet block at Chevron Renaissance at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast on March 5.
In an attempt to locate the mother police released security video of a woman leaving the centre’s car park. Media reports then indicated that the woman was identified as an Irish citizen who had returned to Ireland.
“No child is returned to their family without an assessment that this is in the best interests of the child and this case was no exception.
“As those assessments were being made child safety staff also had to deal with the paperwork problems associated with a baby of foreign parents not born in a hospital.
“In cases such as these, first a birth certificate has to be obtained, then negotiations proceed with Ireland to obtain Irish citizenship and have an Irish passport issued.
“Then visa information has to be issued to confirm that the baby was legally here in the first place.
“Our staff made dozens of phone calls to deal with these unusual circumstances and they tell me the Australian Immigration Department and the Irish Embassy are to be congratulated for their outstanding co-operation.
An Irish newspaper has quoted a family member as saying they are delighted to have the baby home and he is very healthy.
“I can confirm that he thrived in foster care and when he left Queensland, aged three months, he weighed 7 kilograms.
“His foster carers gave him a Saint Christopher bracelet so that he would have a safe trip and he was blessed by a Catholic priest the day before the flight.
“The child safety officer who took him to Ireland visited the baby regularly in the weeks before departure so that he would be comfortable in her care for the journey.
“So congratulations to all involved. To overcome unusual problems and return a happy, healthy baby to his Irish family in just three months is a great achievement and highlights the great work of the Child Safety Department,” Ms Boyle said.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
11 July 2007