Garda Vetting Procedures.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2004

Thursday, 19 February 2004

Questions (204)

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

204 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the Soham case in England and the need to take precautions for employing people to work with juveniles, he will consider ensuring that the gardaí vet school caretakers in advance of their taking up posts. [5450/04]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 278 of 11 February 2004. Developments in respect of the inquiry within the United Kingdom as to how the post of school caretaker was secured in the case in question will be monitored by my Department.

We must, obviously, do what we can to ensure that children are not exposed to risks of this kind and one of the central tasks of the working group on Garda vetting is to advise as to how best we can ensure this. As I have already stated, this report is almost finalised and I will have it examined as a matter of urgency once it comes to hand.