Malcolm Byrne
Question:440. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measures that are in place for cross-border and transnational checking as part of the Garda vetting process. [16081/26]
View answerThursday, 26 February 2026
Questions (440)
Written answers
I am advised by Garda authorities that vetting process is delivered in a standardised format to all organisations that request vetting. This approach reflects established international best practice and complies with the requirements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016.
Where a vetting subject has provided a biographical history that indicates that the vetting subject has lived in Northern Ireland, the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) has a reciprocal arrangement in place with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The PSNI conducts vetting in respect of these individuals and provides the GNVB with any convictions recorded in respect of the vetting subject.
In addition, since the 7 July 2025, the GNVB, in alignment with EU Directive 2011/93/EU and the Criminal Records (Exchange of Information) Act, 2019 through the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS), has introduced additional child protection checks with all EU Member States and the United Kingdom. These enhanced measures are part of an EU-wide initiative to strengthen the protection of children by facilitating the secure exchange of criminal record information, particularly concerning sexual offences, across borders in circumstances where the individual is seeking to work with children in Ireland.