Paul Murphy raises urgent plea over international parental abduction
Paul Murphy raised concerns about international parental abduction and asked whether the issue has been discussed at recent meetings. He highlighted a case of a mother named Mandy who has not seen her children in over 400 days and urged that the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Irish consulate in Cairo provide all possible assistance.
Issue raised
He asked whether international parental abduction had come up in meetings and discussions, noting the cross‑border nature of cases and the distress for parents separated from their children.
Case highlighted
He cited a specific case: a mother called Mandy has not seen her children in over 400 days after their father returned to Egypt and is effectively refusing to allow the children to come back. He reported Mandy had written to the Tánaiste seeking reassurance and that she said she "wakes up to a nightmare every single day not knowing if my children are alive or well."
Official response
A reply in the chamber stated that international parental abduction has not been discussed at the European Council recently. It was noted that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Irish consulates, including the consulate in Cairo, assist where they can, but practical help can be limited because laws differ in other countries.
Local cases and past advocacy
Paul Murphy said he is aware of individual cases from his constituency and from people who have raised the issue with him. He also recalled the "stellar" work of former MEP Mary Bonotti, who took a particular interest in the issue.
Next steps and closing
He urged that all possible assistance be given to Mandy and her family, thanked colleagues in the chamber, and said he would continue to think about the matter and follow up.
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I want to raise the issue of international parental abduction and ask whether this topic has come up at any of the meetings and discussions. This is a situation where one parent takes children out of the state, Ireland, but it could be any state, into another country and they are not effectively kept there and they are not returned to their parent. Obviously for the parents involved, the family involved, it is a horrendous situation, the fact that you are separated from your children. You might be aware, there is one case that I am aware of currently, a woman called Mandy, who is the mother. She has written to the Tanaiste saying, I have not seen my children in over 400 days. I need further reassurance that the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and the Irish Consulate in Cairo are serious regarding my Irish-born son's wellbeing and their right to be home. I wake up to a nightmare every single day not knowing if my children are alive or well. In her case, her ex-husband has gone back to Egypt and effectively is refusing to allow the children to come back. I do understand that she is in touch with the consulate and the department and so on. I guess it is a general question about discussions about this at an international level, because it is not just happening from Ireland, but from other countries as well. And then secondly, just to make sure that all possible assistance is being given to Mandy and her family. Thank you. In terms of international parental abduction, this has not been discussed at the European Council, at least not to my recollection and not recently. But I am aware of individual cases, both people with my constituency and people who have raised the issue with me. I think we all do as politicians. I remember the really stellar work of former MEP Mary Bonotti, who took a particular interest in the issue. The Department of Foreign Affairs does help wherever it can. Sometimes it can be hard to help in any kind of meaningful or practical way, because laws can be very different in other countries than they are here. But the DFA is there to help people in any way that we can. Thanks. Thanks, my friend. Thanks, everybody. Thanks a lot. I'll see you next week. I'm going to be thinking when I sit here. So there's this thing. You might be thinking down. If you don't see, the little thing, I don't care what you do.
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