Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 832: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied with the Garda vetting procedure for certain local authority job applicants and, in particular, that the procedure returns and lists as criminal convictions against applicants cases where defendants in fact received the benefit of the Probation Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27516/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for a number of organisations in Ireland, registered with the Unit, which employ personnel to work in a full-time, part-time, voluntary or student capacity with children and/or vulnerable adults. All Local Authorities are registered with the GCVU.

In the vetting process checks are conducted on the Garda Criminal Records database in respect of all applications received. The policy in place with all organisations registered for Garda Vetting is that the vetting subject gives written permission, on the Garda vetting application form, for the Garda Síochána to disclose to the Authorised Signatory in the registered organisation details of all prosecutions, successful or not, pending or completed and/or convictions, recorded in the State or elsewhere in respect of them. In all instances where the provisions of the Probation Act are applied as a consequence of a prosecution, the details recorded in respect of a vetting subject are disclosed to registered organisation.

All court outcome records in respect of all proceedings commenced in relation to an individual vetting subject, as held by the Garda Síochána at the time a vetting application is received by the GCVU, are disclosed to the Authorised Signatory in the registered organisation which has submitted the application for vetting, in line with established policy. All Garda vetting disclosures are issued directly to Authorised Signatories in registered organisations, who are trained liaison personnel within those organisations.

I would remind the Deputy that Garda vetting is but one component part of the employment procedures in place in the registered organisations. The Garda Síochána has no input into any decision made by any given organisation regarding the suitability, or otherwise, of an individual applicant for eventual employment.