Under The Act, any person whose work or activity involves ‘relevant work’ with access to children or vulnerable persons must be vetted. Individuals who must be vetted may include employees, volunteers and those on student placements performing ‘relevant work’ for a relevant organisation through which they have access to children and/or vulnerable adults. A full and comprehensive list of relevant work or activities is set out in Part 1 and 2 of the Schedule of Relevant Work contained within the Act.
Are you a relevant organisation? A relevant organisation means a group (including a body corporate or an unincorporated body of persons) who employs, enters into a contract for services or permits any person (i.e. a volunteer) to undertake relevant work or activities, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of the person having access to, or contact with, children or vulnerable adults. A relevant organisation shall not permit any person to undertake relevant work or activities on behalf of the organisation unless the organisation receives a vetting disclosure from the National Vetting Bureau in respect of that person. A person who contravenes this section shall be guilty of an offence.
- If your organisation is deemed a Relevant Organisation, you are required by law to vet anyone who is engaged in relevant work before they commence their role.
- You are required to verify and keep on file a record of the applicant’s proof of identity.
- You are required to keep a copy of all vetting disclosures for the duration of your volunteer or staff member’s time in the role for which they were vetted.
Who is a vulnerable person: According to the act a vulnerable person means a person, other than a child, who is suffering from a disorder of the mind, whether as a result of mental illness or dementia, has an intellectual disability, is suffering from a physical impairment, whether as a result of injury, illness or age, or has a physical disability, which is of such a nature or degree as to restrict the capacity of the person to guard himself or herself against harm by another person, or that results in the person requiring assistance with the activities of daily living including dressing, eating, walking, washing and bathing.
For more detailed information on vetting legislation in Ireland please see the National Vetting Bureau’s FAQ section .
