Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views regarding a submission in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18582/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that an application for vetting in respect of the person to whom the Deputy refers was processed by the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) and a response was returned to the registered organisation in March 2010.

In the vetting process, in response to a written request from a registered organisation, the Garda authorities will release criminal history information in respect of the person who is the subject of the vetting application. A vetting application may only be made with the written consent of the subject of the vetting application authorising the Garda authorities to furnish a statement that there are no convictions recorded against the subject in the State or elsewhere or a statement of any convictions recorded against the subject as the case may be or a statement of all prosecutions, successful or unsuccessful, pending or completed in the State or elsewhere as the case may be.

Garda vetting is only one element which feeds into the overall recruitment and selection process. There is a range of other factors which a recruiting/selecting body or organisation may take into account when coming to a decision on a person's suitability. The Garda authorities do not decide on the suitability or otherwise of person for recruitment or selection. These decisions rest, as they rightly should, with the recruiting/selecting body or organisation.