Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is an opportunity to raise an issue on who may apply and on the applications process. In that context, I compliment the Minister on hitting the ground running on taking office to address what had been a serious delay in the vetting procedures. Anyone who is involved in this area will testify they were being extended far beyond a reasonable time, especially when one considers that the individual would be employed, pending completion of the vetting procedure. However, the Minister will be aware that over the past six months, there has been some slippage and the delays now have been exacerbated. Does he have a comment to make in the context of this section? Moreover, with the setting up of the new database, I understand the Minister will be deploying additional resources. Can he make a comment to alleviate the concerns of those who now are finding the delay has reverted from two to three months back to five or six months?