Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 436: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform why young persons travelling abroad for working holidays and education find it so difficult to acquire Garda clearance; and the reason for this difficulty. [4889/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Garda central vetting unit was established in January 2002 to carry out criminal record vetting in respect of prospective full-time employees working primarily in the health care area and in certain designated agencies.

When the unit became fully operational, it was envisaged that a phased extension of the vetting arrangements to other groups would take place. To this end, a working group was established to examine the issue. The working group submitted its final report in March 2004 and this report has since been published in electronic form on my Department's website.

On the basis of this report, my colleague, Deputy Brian Lenihan, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for children, announced the provision of additional staff resources for the unit to enable the Garda Síochána's vetting services to be extended. The Minister of State's announcement implements one of the key recommendations of the working group. The other practical recommendations are being brought forward by an implementation group chaired by the Garda Síochána and comprising representatives of my Department, the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science, and Finance, the Office of the Attorney General, and Mr Paul Gilligan, chief executive officer of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The extension of the services of the vetting unit will commence this year as soon as the necessary practical arrangements are in place, and public announcements will occur in this regard in due course.