Vol. 571 No. 1
1121 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the progress of the working group set up by the Garda Commissioner to examine the extension of clearance arrangements provided by the central vetting unit for other groups; the number of meetings of the working group which have taken place; and when a report is expected. [19804/03]
1213 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he is taking to ensure compliance with the requirement that adults working with children in sports organisations are vetted by the Garda, in view of the delay in ensuring same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20822/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1121 and 1213 together.
Following a review of Garda vetting arrangements, a central vetting unit was established in January 2002 to deal with the then known demand for vetting. The unit currently processes approximately 100,000 vetting requests per annum in respect of, inter alia, prospective employees of health boards entering full-time employment who would have substantial unsupervised access to children or vulnerable persons.
When the central vetting unit became fully operational and all its backlogs were cleared, it was envisaged that a phased extension of the vetting arrangements to other groups would take place. To this end, a working group was established to examine the issue, taking account of all aspects of the vetting of persons coming in contact with children and vulnerable persons – be they full-time, part-time, voluntary or community workers or students on placements.
Membership of the working group, which originally comprised representatives of the Garda Síochána and my Department, was subsequently extended to include representatives of the Office of the Attorney General and the Departments of Health and Children and Education and Science. It has met on four occasions to date.
The work of the group is ongoing and I hope to receive the outcome of its deliberations in about two months.
