Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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924. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider a more innovative approach to current Garda vetting procedures that would involve a licence for up to three years post issuance of a Garda clearance certificate as opposed to the current system requiring separate and new applications for every employment noting particularly the burden on the system and on applicants involved in multiple part-time positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35406/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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A vetting disclosure is made in response to a written request and with the permission of the person who is the subject of that request. Garda vetting disclosures are issued to specified organisations registered with the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) for that purpose in respect of a particular post or employment. The Unit processed approximately 328,000 vetting applications on behalf of these organisations in 2012.

The disclosure is made to the requesting, registered organisation of the position at the time when it is issued.

Each time a new vetting application is received, a full vetting check is conducted to ensure that the most recent data available is taken into account. The non-transferability and contemporaneous nature of the certificate protects against the risk of fraud or forgery and is a guarantee of the integrity of the vetting service. It also affords the registered organisation the facility to assess suitability based on the most up to date information available on the applicant.

I remain in ongoing contact with the Garda Commissioner as to how best the service can continue to be delivered and improved upon, while at all times protecting the integrity of the process. Clearly, the protection of children and vulnerable adults is the primary objective of the GCVU and this must remain the case.

The possibility of introducing an e-vetting system has been assessed and the Garda authorities are now in the process of developing a system which will enable vetting applications to be submitted electronically through a secure web service. In addition, the system will facilitate the checking and monitoring of applications. The relevant work is being pursued on a priority basis and it will be completed as quickly as possible.