Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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1. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans in relation to reform of the Garda vetting system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26261/24]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Minister for Justice have any plans to reform the Garda vetting system and will she make a statement in that regard? We know the importance of the Garda vetting system. I have heard from many organisations about inconveniences relating to the system. Does the Minister have any plans to reform or change it?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. The Deputy will appreciate the importance of this task and the need for it to be carried out thoroughly. I believe the many organisations centred around the safety, enjoyment and comfort of children and vulnerable people understand that they must take all reasonable steps to ensure that only suitable people are recruited and employed. We all take this responsibility very seriously. This requires a robust Garda vetting process that reassures the public, and parents in particular, that appropriate checks are conducted on people taking on positions of trust.

I am advised by Garda management that, while more complex cases can take some time, there is currently no delay or backlog in the standard vetting process. The turnaround time for the vast majority of applications is between five and six days. The target timeline is between five and ten working days.

I established the Garda vetting review group because, like Deputy Daly, colleagues have come to me with cases of people who have had to be vetted multiple times and I have seen it myself. Some people are working with multiple organisations, including sporting groups in their own communities. Is there a way to speed this up or could we have a different system that makes it easier for clubs to take people on or for people to work in schools and other environments while not diluting the process or the importance of the vetting system in any way? The membership of the group includes members of An Garda Síochána and officials from my Department, Tusla and other relevant stakeholders. I assure the Deputy that the group’s primary focus has been to examine the means of strengthening the vetting legislation in a workable and effective manner. I am informed that the group’s report on arrangements for Garda vetting will be finalised in the coming weeks. I have asked for it to be completed before the summer recess, that is, in the next three weeks. The group has been working on the report for some time and, once I receive it, I expect to respond to any recommendations immediately.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for the reply. I spoke to a person last year who told me she had to be Garda vetted five times, not only because of her involvement with sporting organisations but also as she moved job within the same organisation. She still had to be Garda vetted because she was moving to a different department. While we have to strike a balance in protecting vulnerable people and children, there is also an obligation to make the process as unbureaucratic and unburdensome as possible so that volunteers are not turned away. Sinn Féin moved a Bill last year that is to go to Second Stage in two weeks' time. It sets out to provide a register of general consents. Under this Bill, people opening themselves up to Garda vetting could give a generalised consent allowing any organisation that requires Garda vetting to access that system, meaning the people in question would not have to complete the forms again. Is the Minister's review group giving that consideration?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate the challenges that people are facing. One of the issues that has been flagged with me as the work of the review group has been under way is that each individual group wants to be certain that the system is robust and that the people it is hiring or taking on and who may be engaging with young children or vulnerable people in their care have that certificate. At the same time, people are undertaking different processes, in some instances, essentially at the same time, and we should have a better and more efficient way to deal with that.

The review is focused on two main areas. The first is the introduction of a system for revetting. This will require primary legislation and consideration of all of those elements and how we can revet a person in a reduced timeframe and a less cumbersome manner. The second is a review of the approach to vetting for specific employments with a view to linking vetting to the specific work of the employer or the work the employer is likely to give to the employee. That would move with the employee as opposed to remaining with the employer.

As I have said, the membership of the group comprises my own Department, the Garda National Vetting Bureau, Tusla, the Public Appointments Service, the Department of Education, the HSE, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and others. We will have the report before the end of the summer recess and I intend to move on the recommendations.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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I received great assistance from the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, which suggested the card system in place in Scotland may not be appropriate here. However, I ask the Minister to take that register of general consents into consideration.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have not tied the hands of the review group as regards any recommendations it may make. If it has looked at what works and does not work in other jurisdictions, I am happy to take that into consideration. I know we are also to discuss Private Members' legislation here in the coming weeks.