Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the joint work of her Department and the Department of Justice and Equality on the preparation of the National Vetting Bureau Bill; the current stage of the Bill; the expected date of publication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19900/11]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has met with the Department of Justice and Equality regarding the introduction of legislation to enable the sharing of soft information; and if she will to provide a report on the progress of that legislation. [19881/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 53 together.

The Department of Justice, Equality and Defence, in conjunction with my Department and other relevant agencies, is preparing the Heads for the National Vetting Bureau Bill. Consultations have taken place with my Department and other Departments / agencies as part of the preparation of this legislation and these consultations are ongoing. The National Vetting Bureau Bill will provide a statutory basis for the vetting of all applicants for employment and employees working with children. The Bill will provide for a vetting process which will provide for the identification of both hard and 'soft/ relevant information', in particular, information relating to the endangerment, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or risk thereof, to children. This area has also been considered by the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment for Children and the findings of the Committee are being considered in the preparation of the legislation.