Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will confirm that the police authorities in the UK and Northern Ireland are refusing to provide security clearance or vetting for people who have worked within their jurisdiction and who have applied for positions dealing with children within the health and education systems; the way in which he proposes to respond to this issue, including guidelines for interview boards in view of the difficulty this causes for interview boards and especially for the protection of children. [7779/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The British authorities are not refusing to provide police vetting for persons who have worked within that jurisdiction and who are now applying for positions in this jurisdiction. However, last December, the British national central bureau, NCB, of Interpol issued a communiqué to all Interpol member states, including Ireland, signalling changes in British vetting procedures. The nature of these changes would have the potential to create significant difficulties for the Garda Síochána in submitting requests for vetting to the British authorities.

Accordingly, concerns at the potential implications of these changes have been raised at both ministerial and a high level police-to-police basis, with a view to reaching a satisfactory resolution of the potential difficulties. I am closely monitoring developments in this regard.

In the interim, the Garda Síochána will continue to provide vetting services within the full extent of information available to it.

It is worth noting that criminal record checks, while being capable in appropriate circumstances of making a significant contribution to ensuring that unsuitable persons do not secure positions of trust, are not the sole answer to ensuring applicants' suitability for posts. There will continue to be a particular onus of care on employers to maintain good employment practice during the recruitment stage, for example, good interviewing practice, checking references and in ensuring adequate supervision arrangements post recruitment.