Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the Taoiseach's positive response to the questions. Again, I highlight the National Irish Community and Voluntary Forum as a means to address that need. I would welcome any initiative to promote awareness to overcome that difficulty.

My final question is on a related issue. The task force also highlighted the critical need for the system of Garda vetting of people involved in community and voluntary effort with young people to be speeded up. We are all very well aware that people, in good faith, volunteer their services to young people. The overwhelming majority are citizens of good standing with bona fide intent. There is an inordinate delay in having these clearance certificates, for the want of a better description, processed. Is the Taoiseach aware that it takes several months for this process to be completed in each case? It is a dissuasion. It can put people off and it is denying the community and voluntary sector the valued input of energetic people who have a very positive contribution to make in this area. Does the Taoiseach envisage taking any steps to have this matter addressed and the process expedited?

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