Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is an issue, although not one that will impact on the majority of people who may be subject to vetting, but we have circumstances in which foreign nationals in this country seek employment with vulnerable adults or children and it is important that information, where possible, can be obtained in a vetting process. There are certain arrangements in existence within the EU for the exchange of information in certain circumstances. I hope that across the EU we may become more co-ordinated in the future and more proficient in these areas.

We cannot, depending on where an individual is from, always be certain information can be accessed or be readily available. Nevertheless it is an issue of which I am conscious. There is a limit to what we can do within our legislation. We cannot compel authorities of other countries to respond to queries that arise, but on occasion information can be obtained that is important in the area of crime investigation by the Garda Síochána. This in the area of vetting. It is slightly different because it involves both convictions and soft information, but in so far as we can access information, this area can be further developed. It is an issue to keep in mind and consider again in the future in the context of events happening in the European Union to co-ordinate the availability of information.

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