Garda Commissioner Noirín O'Sullivan has moved to reassure the families of missing people that An Garda Síochána will never give up the search for their loved ones.
Speaking at a Missing Persons’ Day event in Farmleigh House, she said it was important that many members of An Garda Síochána had attended to show support to families.
“The missing are never forgotten about. It’s something that we’re absolutely committed to. We will never give up, no matter how long the person is missing,” she said. “We will never give up in our search for answers for the families, and our commitment remains resolute on that.”
She said about 20 of the 8,000 people reported missing every year remained missing.
The commissioner said when somebody went missing it was a very painful time for families and anguish and worry could be heightened and particularly around Christmas and birthdays
Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said it was a sad fact that few communities in Ireland had been spared the "sorrow and bewilderment" that was felt when a person went missing.
She said families with missing peoples knew it was very difficult to live with uncertainty, and that not knowing what had happened was an enduring difficulty.
Ms Fitzgerald welcomed the Garda review of missing persons protocols which was underway in conjunction with representative groups and families.
