Pavee Point has hit out at the shape of the investigation into how two Roma children came to be taken from their families in the past week.

Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald has insisted that “no particular nationality or ethnic group” should be singled out in child protection cases after gardaí temporarily removed two children from separate Roma families.

The removal of two Roma children from their homes by gardaí on the basis of claims they did not look like their parents was not about any group being singled out, the Government said.

Bulgarian authorities were last night continuing to question a couple thought to be the parents of Maria, the mysterious blonde girl whose discovery in a Greek Roma camp has made global headlines.

There have been widespread calls for an inquiry into the manner in which the two Roma children were taken by gardaí from their parents in Dublin and Athlone while their parentage was being checked out.

The Garda and children’s watchdogs will review the cases of two Roma families having children removed from their homes amid claims they could not prove their identity.

The Garda Ombudsman Commission will review the cases of two Roma families having children removed from their homes amid claims they could not prove their identity.

A Roma woman in Bulgaria says police have questioned her about whether she is the mother of a girl found to be living with an unrelated couple in Greece.

The Ombudsman for Children is to investigate why two children were taken from their Roma families and put into State care.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has asked the Garda Commissioner to prepare a report on how two Roma children came to be removed from their families amid concerns about their identity.

A Roma family whose child was wrongly taken from them on Monday due to claims she was not related to her parents said gardaí have “very serious” questions to answer over the case.

The DNA testing process can typically take up to 48 hours, say the Forensic Science Laboratory — so it’s a safe bet there was some anxious pacing of corridors and hallways before the results in the Tallaght Roma case came in yesterday afternoon.

Often, we are told that we look like our parents. We have our mother’s eyes or our father’s chin. Occasionally, we so closely resemble a brother or sister that we can be mistaken for twins. But sometimes, we look nothing like our parents at all.

The Roma family of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed schoolgirl removed from them by gardaí have supported calls for an independent investigation after tests proved she is their daughter.

Gardaí have released a statement saying they want to assure the public they take extremely serious all reports from the public concering child welfare.

A blonde haired, blue-eyed schoolgirl removed from a Roma family will be reunited with her parents after DNA tests proved she is their daughter.

Calls have been made for an independent inquiry into why two Roma children were “abducted” from their families by Irish authorities.

The public should remain vigilant and contact the authorities if they have suspicions about the welfare of a child, Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald said today.

A second child taken from a Roma family in Ireland has been reunited with his parents.

The FBI is looking into whether a child found at a gypsy camp in Greece is a missing US girl.

A Roma family in Dublin who had a blonde, blue-eyed girl removed from them over concerns she was not theirs expects to hear today if she will be returned.