Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The chronology of events that has unfolded in the past week shows a Government in crisis, displaying gross incompetence on a matter of extreme seriousness to many people around the country. Last week I made the point that this matter is not one of pure party politics but is one for the Legislature and the Oireachtas to deal with and I offered support from this side to do that. It would have been appropriate, I would have thought, for the Taoiseach to have turned around the people's jet and come back and join in that process. However, following the case made by the Opposition yesterday the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform did have discussions with the Opposition in so far as proposals to deal with this issue are concerned. I understand that process is continuing and I hope it can conclude today with a Bill that can be put through to plug this gaping hole in the law.

Leaving that aside, I ask the Tánaiste, in respect of the question I asked yesterday, the numbers involved under section 1(1) of the Act that was struck down and the number of cases pending under section 2(1) of that Act. I am sure the Tánaiste has that information to hand now.

Deputy Enright produced a policy document and Bill in November 2003 dealing with the issue of vetting persons. In respect Mr. A who has walked free, and others who may walk free, depending on the outcome of the Supreme Court appeal tomorrow, if any of those persons, convicted under that section of the Act which has been deleted and is no longer in force, apply for jobs dealing with children there is no evidence available to the Garda in respect of their personality or character. A method needs to be found of dealing with soft information being made available to the Garda in respect of that category of person who might apply for a job which would have an involvement with vulnerable children. In that respect the Tánaiste should look urgently at the proposals Deputy Enright brought forward in respect of vetting of persons who might have an involvement in dealing with children. A critical consequence of the subsection having been removed and no longer being in force legally, is that persons who were convicted could apply for positions dealing with children and there is no information available to the Garda anywhere in the country about their appalling record in those cases. That is a matter the Government should consider as a matter of priority and urgency.

See this speech in context