Dáil row over vetting of Garda trainees

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

A small number of Garda trainees in the next graduating class are not ready to enter the field for a range of issues including vetting.

An Garda Síochána said several trainee candidates remain in “enhanced security vetting”.

A spokesman said this was for a variety of reasons, such as the candidate requiring checks with international police services because of having lived abroad.

An Garda Síochána said it was endeavouring to advance these to the decision phase as quickly as possible.

It is understood that delays for trainees entering the field can also arise for other reasons, such as examinations.

On Wednesday, a row broke out in the Dail over the matter as Sinn Féin was accused of misrepresenting comments by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan.

The opposition party had contended that up to 20 trainees were awaiting vetting before they could fully graduate.

During Leaders’ Questions, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said: “Up to 20 in a given class of gardai will be prevented from starting their duties because of an internal Garda process – the minister at committee yesterday confirmed that that was the case. ”

However, Mr O’Callaghan rejected the claim that he had confirmed that figure.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Ms McDonald had heard the figure from her justice spokesman Matt Carthy, whom he accused of “exaggeration” and “spin”.

It is understood that the number awaiting vetting is not approaching 20.

Ms McDonald had said: “It’s frankly unbelievable to me that gardaí, who will be graduating next week, will be prevented from starting their work. Why? Because their Garda vetting hasn’t been completed.”

Ms McDonald said “you literally couldn’t make this up,” and said the minister had confirmed the issue at committee.

However, Mr O’Callaghan, who was in the Dáil chamber, said he had not said that, and Mr Martin told the Sinn Féin leader he would not respond to “assertions that are not soundly based”.

He added: “The more fundamental point is, we are recruiting gardaí at record numbers.”

It's frankly unbelievable to me that gardai, who will be graduating next week, will be prevented from starting their work. Why? Because their Garda vetting hasn't been completed

At the Justice Committee on Tuesday, Mr Carthy and Mr O’Callaghan had an exchange about the approximately 170 trainees graduating from Templemore Garda College next week.

The Sinn Féin justice spokesman asked the minister if he was aware that there would be recruits passing out who have still not received their Garda vetting, and therefore would not be able to enter the field, and requested a figure for how many may be affected.

Mr O’Callaghan replied: “I can’t give you the number in terms of how many.”

He said no gardaí would attest until the full probation and vetting process had been completed, adding that vetting now runs while trainees are at Templemore.

Mr Carthy said he had been informed that as many as 20 of the recruits would have their deployment postponed because of vetting delays.

Mr O’Callaghan said he did not have that figure.

After Leaders’ Questions on Wednesday, Sinn Féin acknowledged its representatives had raised the figure of 20 trainees but contended that the minister had accepted there was an issue with vetting.