Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
542. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current status of the Garda vetting review recommendations; when reforms will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53099/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. The Garda National Vetting Bureau is responsible for the vetting system under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 (as amended).
The primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. This requires a robust Garda vetting process that reassures the public, and in particular parents, that appropriate checks are conducted on people taking on positions of trust.
I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding certain aspects of the Garda vetting process and I have listened carefully to the views of affected sectors. Further to the work of an Interdepartmental Vetting Review Group, I have directed that steps be taken to implement a number of key changes, specifically in relation to re-vetting and the portability of vetting.
These changes will require amending legislation and updated technical systems to support the revised approach, to make the process more efficient for volunteers and organisations, without compromising the essential safeguards that protect vulnerable individuals.
My Department is actively engaging with the Garda National Vetting Bureau on the detailed work of developing the necessary legislative and technical steps to meet these goals in a way that is workable in practice. This includes an assessment of appropriate models for an expansion of digital service delivery, which is a very significant project that will necessarily take time to fully scope and implement.
