Lorraine Higgins (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss this issue regarding Garda vetting. It is a central pillar of the Government's objective to have large numbers of those who are currently out of work gain meaningful employment as a means of rectifying our current economic crisis. I commend the efforts made by the Government in this regard, including the increase in foreign direct investment to our shores, the introduction of an action plan for jobs, a schools building programme and significant capital spending on infrastructure, as outlined in the July stimulus plan. However, as an Oireachtas Member for east Galway, I must focus on how Government and associated agencies can remove barriers to work for those in my constituency. I want to ensure that all my constituents have accessibility to the workforce and that boundaries and barriers to work are eliminated by the Government. For us to achieve anything of significance in this regard, we need to address the delay in processing of applications for Garda vetting.

I acknowledge and understand that the Garda Síochána are providing a great service in terms of ensuring a process of quality control and that it is of the utmost importance that nothing comes between those who want to work and employment. The fact that people are having to wait months for Garda clearance is acting as a barrier to entry into the workforce. In my home town of Athenry, some 63 students who are studying child care, health care, nursing and social studies in Athenry vocational school, who expected to undertake work experience a number of weeks ago as part of their course, have been unable to do so in circumstances where they have yet to receive Garda clearance. This means they are being significantly delayed in completing their courses and entering the marketplace for work.

Following on from my raising this issue in the Seanad yesterday, I was contacted by a self-employed man who told me he had to cease work for three weeks as he did not have the requisite Garda vetting for his business. It is fair to say he probably endured some degree of financial hardship as a consequence. This is a terrible indictment of our processes in Ireland and serves only to deter and discourage people from entering the workforce. We must be mindful that students and self-employed people are the people we expect to assist us in rebuilding Ireland. They are the ones who have not emigrated and want to work in or develop their businesses in Athenry, a town where currently 30 business units remain empty. I am sure this situation is being replicated throughout the country. Steps need to be taken to ensure that these delays are abated, if not eliminated.