Vetting of Personnel.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2010

Tuesday, 27 April 2010

Ceisteanna (205)

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

242 Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish citizens who are required by a prospective employer located and registered outside this State to provide proof of no convictions in this State cannot currently obtain such proof from An Garda Síochána or any other State agency for the purposes of obtaining employment and that this situation is causing difficulty for some Irish citizens in securing employment abroad; the action he has taken or proposes taking to address this difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16475/10]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern)

The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a large number of organisations in Ireland registered with the Gardaí for this purpose and which employ persons in a full-time, part-time, voluntary or training capacity to positions where they would have substantial, unsupervised access to children and/or vulnerable adults. The vetting service is also conducted for fostering and for the Adoption Board. This vetting service does not and does not purport to operate in respect of general employments. The priority focus has been and remains on enhancing protection for children and vulnerable adults. There are no plans at present to make the employment vetting services of the GCVU available to the generality of employments or employees or for personal reference purposes.