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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Garda vetting review delay

Summary

The Deputy asked for an update on the long-promised Garda vetting review, arguing the current system is duplicative and slow. The Taoiseach agreed some vetting rules make no sense and said he would raise the matter with the Minister for Justice.

I want to ask a question that others have raised on the issue of Garda vetting. As we know, a teacher doing a summer project, such as mentoring in a GAA club, needs separate vetting. This is quite farcical and the process could be streamlined to be a lot quicker, but every time we raised it we were told the Garda vetting review group was the group that was going to report on this. The former Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, said in April 2021 that it would take approximately six months. In March, the current Minister for justice said the report was due soon. Has the Taoiseach any information on when the Garda vetting review group will report and whether we will be able to discuss and debate this in September? It is a pressing issue for many.

Comment on this

I thank the Deputy for raising this. There are some aspects of vetting that make no sense and what the Deputy raised is one of them. If you are vetted for teaching, for example, and seek to train at a GAA, soccer or rugby club, that vetting should apply. We get huge complaints about backlogs and delays, which can get in the way of providing services. I have views on this and will talk to the Minister for justice about it.

Comment on this