David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her response. I know the Garda Commissioner, having engaged with him in a previous role, and he is very reasonable. I am sure that when the Minister and Garda Commissioner have a conversation, they will be able to find a way of resolving this issue.

Other cruise liners and shipping companies across Europe also have these demands and they work with other jurisdictions, I am told, with no issues. They can get these police certificates from every jurisdiction except Ireland. It is a matter of changing the five rules we have in place here or adding a sixth to allow people who work on ships and cruise liners as part of the training to apply for and be given a police certificate. That is a requirement of these shipping companies for people to complete their training, get certification and have a career. This broadens their skill sets. We talk about skill sets here in Ireland. This is a way we can do it. It will not cost anything but it means somebody has to think about this and put something together.

The Minister has acknowledged that there is some urgency about this. As we speak, there are students waiting for this to be done. They are very frustrated and their careers could go down the Swanee unless this is sorted. I encourage and support the Minister in her work and in talking to the Garda Commissioner. Perhaps he is listening this evening and, knowing the man, he may already be working on this to get it done. It is a small matter but for these young people it is a very big and important matter.

See this speech in context