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

I am advised that amendment No. 9 covers the issues about which the Senators are concerned. It covers any individual who works in a centre and has direct contact with children. This could well include cooking staff. However, it does not cover what I would describe as visitors to a centre because one cannot vet a visitor. If, for example, a voluntary organisation is working in the area and a committed individual attached to the organisation in question is visiting a centre, one could not expect him or her to be vetted. However, if the person is in a voluntary organisation that is working with children regularly, he or she will fall under the aegis of the Bill on the basis that he or she is working with children as opposed to being a visitor to a centre that is providing direct provision.