I thank the Deputy for outlining the litany of issues he has endured. I hope this reply will be of benefit to him. The primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. Clearly, this requires a robust vetting process that reassures the public and, in particular, parents that appropriate checks are conducted on people taking up positions of trust. I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding certain aspects of the Garda vetting process, particularly by sporting and voluntary organisations and sectors. The Government has met directly with the Federation of Irish Sport on this matter and my Department has also received correspondence from a range of voluntary organisations. I am also aware that concerns have been raised on the approach of minimising vetting disclosures of an individual. For example, where a teacher is vetted, the Teaching Council permits him or her to move from one school to another without re-vetting. All that is required is that registered teachers re-vet every three years on a scheduled basis. Consequently, if this system of portability is safe for engagement with our school children, I believe a version of portability must also be safe for broader application. In this regard, I am conscious that aspects of the current vetting system result in a highly segmented process. I believe that the vetting system should be updated to ensure that the burden of seeking vetting disclosures, particularly on volunteers and organisations working in their communities, is minimised to the greatest extent possible, while maintaining the high standards that are necessary. Further to the work carried out by the Garda vetting review group, steps are now being taken to implement a number of key changes to the process that will ensure it remains robust and effective, while improving the service to customers. In practice, and subject to a general requirement that vetting be renewed every three years, it is envisaged that this will mean that when a person is vetted for the work he or she will be or is likely to be involved in as part of his or her employment or volunteering within identified risk categories, the person should not be required to repeat the process if he or she was to move to another role within the same risk category. These changes will require amending legislation and updated technical systems to support the revised approach. This work will make the process more efficient for volunteers and organisations without compromising the essential safeguards that protect those in our care. The Department is engaging with An Garda Síochána on the best way to deliver these changes, while maintaining the high vetting standards that are essential to the protection of children and vulnerable adults.

Sentiment score: 0.39

The current system used by An Garda Síochána is delivered in a standard format to all organisations seeking vetting. This approach aligns with good international practice. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda National Vetting Bureau's target turnaround time for vetting applications submitted by organisations utilising the e-vetting system is five to ten working days for over 85% of the vetting applications received. The Garda National Vetting Bureau received over 633,500 applications for vetting disclosures last year, 2025. I am also informed that the current processing time for 85% of vetting applications is eight to nine working days. There are a number of factors outside of An Garda Síochána's control that can impact on the timeline for individual applications. These include, for example, where a person has lived overseas. These applications can take additional time. Vetting is carried out by An Garda Síochána in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts of 2012 to 2016. Ministers have no direct role in vetting. Further to the work being carried out by the Garda vetting review group, steps are now being taken to implement a number of the key changes in the process that will ensure it remains robust and effective while improving the service to customers. We must be sure that any changes to the vetting system do not negatively impact on the objective of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Expediency for expediency's sake cannot be the driving motivation - I know that is not Deputy Byrne's motivation - behind any of the changes that we make. We must always keep safeguarding at the heart of the system. I will impress upon the Minister and the officials in the Department of justice the Deputy's annoyance at the delay in bringing this process to a successful end point in its journey.

Sentiment score: 0.19