Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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180. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to ensure that information on time spent outside of Ireland is sought and considered in the Garda vetting process. [20325/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Garda National Vetting Bureau carries out employment vetting checks and this is done primarily in respect of areas of employment where persons may have substantial, unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults and is done in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016. Vetting is also carried out in respect of certain other State employments, such as for An Garda Síochána or the Defence Forces.

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the National Vetting Bureau conducts vetting checks in respect of the information held in the criminal records database in this jurisdiction. The National Vetting Bureau also has in place a reciprocal arrangement with the Police Service of Northern Ireland in respect of addresses in Northern Ireland which are held or have been held by vetting applicants. The National Vetting Bureau does not make any requirements of vetting applicants to provide evidence of criminal record from any other jurisdiction. Any requests that may be made by employers or registered organisations to have applicants provide evidence of criminal record from other jurisdictions would be a matter for the organisations concerned.