Newly elected Carlow TD calls for simplification of Garda Vetting Process

Newly Elected Fianna Fáil Carlow-Kilkenny TD Peter 'Chap' Cleere has said the current Garda Vetting process is in urgent need of being reformed as it is proving frustrating for volunteers and community organisations.

Deputy Cleere said the process is taking several weeks at present because Garda Vetting is particularly busy.

Commenting on the issue, Deputy Cleere said: “I acknowledge and absolutely recognise the importance of Garda Vetting in order to safeguard young people and vulnerable adults and I understand that its main objective is to indicate whether someone has a criminal record or is a threat to a vulnerable person.

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"If someone wants to get involved in coaching with their local GAA club then Garda Vetting is required. If the same person wants to get involved in the local soccer club, he or she again must get Garda vetting. 

"If that person works with a group of children in, for example, a community games club, that person needs Garda Vetting again. The same individual could end up having to go through several processes of Garda Vetting in the one year, which doesn’t make sense."

Deputy Cleere added: “There is a serious lack of joined up thinking in relation to the process surrounding garda vetting. In 2025, with the technology that is currently available to us as a country, there has to be a simpler and slicker way of managing Garda Vetting nationally.

“The process needs to be simplified to make it as easy as possible for volunteers and organisations. Surely, once a person has been vetted once and qualified, this should be acceptable for all organisations and groups? 

"Similar to a passport, once a person has been approved they could be garda vetted for a certain period of time and would have to renew accordingly, perhaps every year but the one vetting covers all organisations. It certainly needs to be examined.”