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Dáil
‹ Questions on Promised Legislation

Garda vetting passport system

Summary

Deputy Martin Kenny raised long delays in Garda vetting and suggested a passport-style system to avoid repeated checks. The Taoiseach agreed vetting is vital, said the same clearance should apply across schools and clubs, and added that work was under way to make this happen safely.

In the programme for Government, there is a commitment regarding the protection of children and the most vulnerable people in our society. Part of this is a process which all Deputies come across, namely Garda vetting, which individuals who work with children through employment, sports organisations or whatever have to undergo. There are huge delays in Garda vetting. I spoke to the people in the bureau who do it and one of the reasons for the delay is duplication. A person who goes to a school to teach music has to get Garda vetting. If he goes to another school to teach the same music to similar children, he has to be vetted again. If he also goes to a GAA club to train children, he has to be vetted yet again. This continuous duplication of the process is a complete mess. The people in the bureau say there is not a complete system or database and that is what is needed. Will the Taoiseach commit to getting this situation resolved? It is very frustrating for people, particularly those who are trying to get employment in the sector.

Comment on this
Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

The Deputy will agree that vetting of those who work with young people is incredibly important, particularly in view of what we went through here for 50 or 60 years and all of that. I could never really understand why a passport system is not available for those who, as the Deputy says, train children in one club and coach in another.

Comment on this
Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

If a person is properly vetted and deemed appropriate to work with children in school X, the same should apply in school Y, whether it is for music, sport or whatever. That is being worked on and I hope we can arrive at an agreement as to how it can happen. We do not want a situation, however, in which somebody could fall through a crack in the system. It has got to stand up and be effective.

Comment on this