Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 15, before section 12, but in Part 3, to insert the following new section:"12.?Convictions deemed spent by a procedure prescribed by law shall not be disclosed by the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Database System.".

This amendment refers to spent convictions. We feel if somebody has gone through a procedure whereby a previous conviction has been ruled as spent the slate should be cleared for the person and this should be taken into consideration in recognition of his or her rights. Therefore it would be good to have clarification in the Bill on vetting procedures that spent convictions will not be brought into account. I am taking for granted, and I am possibly incorrect but I am sure the Minister will correct me if I am, that spent convictions legislation does not cover anything relating to child abuse. It would be difficult to have a spent conviction in such an area. People may fear excluding spent convictions, but this type of conviction cannot be classed as a spent conviction. On the principle of civil rights the fact a conviction is spent should be recognised and it should not be held against a person in this legislation.