Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:75. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding Garda vetting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22948/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 24 May 2018
Ceisteanna (75)
Freagraí scríofa
The Deputy will appreciate that the primary purpose of the employment vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to seek to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. Vetting is carried out by An Garda Síochána primarily in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016.
Vetting checks are conducted by the Garda National Vetting Bureau for each new vetting application received to ensure that the most recent data available is taken into account. This is because once there has been any significant lapse of time between one employment and another, the original vetting disclosure must be reviewed to take account of any changes in information, such as more recent criminal convictions.
Furthermore, data protection law requires that any sensitive personal data which employers use in regard to their employees must be current, accurate and up-to-date. Importantly, the general non-transferability and contemporaneous nature of the current process also helps to protect against the risk of fraud or forgery in the process.
The National Vetting Bureau has deployed an e-vetting system which facilitates the on-line processing of applications for vetting from registered organisations. The e-vetting system is available to all registered organisations and I am informed that the Garda Authorities are ready to assist those organisations who are not yet using the e-vetting system to do so. Notwithstanding a recent increase in the volume of applications submitted to the Bureau, processing times are generally in the order of a 5-6 working day turnaround for 80% of applications received. In circumstances where there is such a sustained reduction in processing times, the issue of vetting “transferability” is largely obviated.
The Deputy will wish to know that there are certain limited circumstances where organisations can share a single vetting disclosure where this is agreed to by the vetting applicant and the organisations in question in accordance with section 12 of the Acts.