The Children's Minister says she is extremely concerned for the families of two Roma children removed from their homes this week. A 7-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy are now back with families after DNA tests confirmed their identities.

Two separate reviews of the cases are being conducted by gardai and the Health Service Executive (HSE), after which the Children's Ombudsman will examine what happened.

Minister Frances Fitzgerald is demanding a detailed review.

While the Justice Minister has said any sort of racial profiling in the Garda Síochána is absolutely unacceptable. Alan Shatter has revealed that the health services had intervened to remove children from their families almost 3,000 times in the last four years.

His comments came as independent TD Clare Daly alleged that gardaí record the details of Traveller children onto the Pulse system. Minister Shatter said any such actions would not be tolerated.

The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission says it has written to the Justice Minister, requesting a copy of the report that the Garda Commissioner has been asked to provide to the Minister on the removal of the two children.

GSOC says its seeking a copy of the report in order to inform themselves fully of the circumstances surrounding the events involving the Roma families so that it can take a position on the matter.

And Taoiseach Enda Kenny says the safety and welfare of children has to be central and insists this is not about any minority group.