Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

I appreciate that schools and others have experienced difficulties with the vetting of potential staff members who may have unsupervised access to children. To address this deficit, a cross-governmental working group was established to consider proposals for the reform of vetting by the Garda Síochána. The group is chaired by a chief superintendent and includes officials from the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Health and Children and Education and Science and the Office of the Attorney General. The report of the group has been finalised and has been received by the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I understand that it is under active consideration by them and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the process until they have made clear their positions.

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