Helen McEntee

Justice Minister Helen McEntee today announced the establishment of an interdepartmental group to review Garda vetting arrangements and legislation.

There is no requirement for someone who is vetted once to be re-vetted unless they move job or position within sporting or community organisations and certain other limited circumstances.

The interdepartmental group, which met for the first time this week, will focus on the introduction of a mandatory system of re-vetting every three years.

This would involve an obligation on an employer, service provider or voluntary organisation to make a new application 36 months after the original vetting had been carried out.

The group will also review the approach to the connected issue of vetting for specific employments.

This will include consideration of moving to a system in which a person is vetted for the work they will be or are likely to be engaged in in that employment within categories of identified risk, and taking into account likely additional responsibilities (e.g. after probation is complete) within the same employment role.

The government said this will avoid the need for additional vetting during the same 36 month period if individuals are largely carrying out the same role. Redeployment on promotion, or to a substantially different job, would continue to require re-vetting.

Under this proposal, a person employed by the HSE as a social worker would not need to be re-vetted (within the 3 years) for a change of work location within the basic social worker grade, but would on promotion to a position of greater authority. Likewise, in relation to volunteering, a person vetted to coach under 14s with the GAA could switch to a different sport without being re-vetted.

In both employment and volunteering situations, provision will also be made for vetting certificates to be withdrawn before the expiry of the 36 months if deemed necessary, i.e. in situations where new information come to light that points to a substantive and immediate risk to children or vulnerable adults.

Ms McEntee said: “Vetting is a crucial prerequisite ahead of recruiting people to a number of specific, potentially sensitive places of employment.

“In particular, those organisations centred around the safety, enjoyment and comfort of children and vulnerable people need to take all reasonable steps to ensure that only suitable people are recruited and employed.

“This requires a strong Garda vetting process that reassures the public that appropriate checks are conducted on individuals in positions of trust.”