Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

1013 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps taken by his Department in vetting people who wish to work with children in order to prevent unsuitable people from gaining employment in work relating to children; his plans to introduce legislation here similar to the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults Bill in Northern Ireland; if there is an exchange of information with Northern Ireland on adults who may have been found unsuitable to work with children in one jurisdiction or the other; and if he will include such an item on the next agenda of the North-South Ministerial Council meeting. [2490/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

In June 1999, in response to requests for an enhancement of the clearance system for employment related to children or vulnerable persons, I announced that the Garda Commissioner was undertaking a comprehensive review of Garda clearance arrangements in this area. As a result, it was decided that a central vetting unit should be established within the Garda Síochána.

The unit was established on 2 January 2002 and is based at the technical bureau, Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8. The primary role of this unit is to check prospective employees who as part of their duties will have substantial access to children or vulnerable adults. The unit liaises with the various health boards throughout the country in carrying out this work. The unit also liaises with the Police Service of Northern Ireland on a daily basis in relation to checks on prospective health board employees who have been domiciled in Northern Ireland, and equally the Police Service of Northern Ireland liaises with the unit regarding applicants for positions in Northern Ireland who have been domiciled in this jurisdiction. The new unit will provide the basis for the development of an enhanced employee clearance system with the objective of meeting growing demands in this area.

I am aware that in Northern Ireland a consultation paper has been published on proposals for a Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults Bill, but this work is, I understand, being carried forward by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. In that context I will bring to the attention of my colleague the Minister for Health and Children the Deputy's suggestion that the matter might be raised at North-South Ministerial Council level.