Kilmore G.A.A. minor board is a sub-committee of the club executive. The minor board takes care of all underage fixtures and teams. The minor board also runs its own excellent fundraising events every year including easter and christmas draws and a sponsored walk.
2018 Minor Board Committee
Chairman : Trevor Hunt 087-9652581
Secretary : Damien Devaney 087-2354374
Treasurer : Shane McElhone 087-9156117 GAA Information and Guidance leaflet on the National Vetting Bureau (Children & Vulnerable Persons) Act 2014
The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 is the vetting legislation passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas in December 2012. This legislation is part of a suite of complementary legislative proposals to strengthen child protection policies and practices in Ireland.
Once the ‘Vetting Bureau Act’ commences the law on vetting becomes formal and obligatory and all organisations and their volunteers or staff who with children and vulnerable adults will be legally obliged to have their personnel vetted. Such personnel must be vetted prior to the commencement of their work with their Association or Sports body.
It is important to note that prior to the Act commencing that GAA policy stated that all persons who in a role of responsibility work on our behalf with children and vulnerable adults has to be vetted. This applies to those who work with underage players. (The term ‘underage’ applies to any player who is under 18 yrs of age, regardless of what team with which they play). The introduction of compulsory vetting, on an All-Ireland scale through legislation, merely formalises our previous policy and practice.
1 When will the Act commence or come into operation? The Act is effectively agreed in law but has to be‘commenced’ by the Minister for Justice and Equality who decides with his Departmental colleagues when best to commence all or parts of the legislation at any given time. It is reported that the Act will commence by November 2014.
2 What sectors or services are subject to vetting?
§ Schools § Childcare Service § Hospitals and health service § Residential services or accommodation for children or vulnerable person § Treatment, therapy or counselling services for children or vulnerable persons § Providers of leisure or physical activities to children or vulnerable persons · tion of religious beliefs 3 Who within the GAA needs to be Garda Vetted in accordance with the Act?
4 What action should the Club take now prior to the commencement of the Act?
*Assessment of compliance procedures: This is a process whereby the Club Children’s Officer obtains a list of all persons in their Club who currently on behalf of the Association work with underage players or vulnerable adults. The Club Children’s Officer then checks this list against the names of people in their Club who to date have been satisfactorily vetted by the GAA. This enables them to identify if there are any gaps in the list of people vetted when compared with the list of those working with underage players. If there are any gaps, then these people should be required to immediately submit a vetting application form as per normal channels.
5 Are there any exemptions from vetting for occasional or temporary roles? At the discretion of the local Club or unit it shall be permissible for a person acting in an occasional or temporary role, who has not previously been vetted by the GAA, to fulfil this role as per the following conditions:
§ The person must be known to the local Club or unit § A non vetted individual may only carry out a ‘temporary’ role for a maximum of three occasions per year § All such persons must be over 18 yrs of age § They must, in advance of commencing their role, complete and submit a vetting application form (e.g. AccessNI/ Garda Vetting) § They must sign a copy of the Code of Behaviour – Underage § They must at all times be under the supervision of a vetted volunteer/staff person
6 If previously vetted by the GAA does a person have to be re-vetted once the Act commences? · We are advised that in if an individual has been previously vetted by the GAA as part of their role in the Association prior to the commencement of the Act, that it is not necessary to re-vet that individual except in accordance with the regulated re-vetting period, i.e. when all persons must be re-vetted after an agreed number of years. We do however reserve the right to re-vet any member at any time. An amendment to the Act also clarifies this position.
7 Whose responsibility is it to ensure Vetting is carried out?
8 How do individuals complete their vetting application form under the new Act?
9 What is a Garda Vetting acceptance letter?
10 Vetting in Ulster
11 Is it an offence to fail to vet a GAA coach or mentor working with children?
(See possible exemptions under Q5)
12 What will the GAA do on receipt of vetting disclosures?
13 What is specified information in the Act?
14 What is the process for disclosing specified information?
15 Procedure for the retention of Vetting Disclosure information by the GAA
16 What should a Club do if the applicant has previously been vetted by another organisation?
17 How long should Club retain vetting information i.e. the vetting acceptance letter? · Every applicant who is deemed to have satisfactorily completed the vetting procedure in the GAA will receive a vetting acceptance letter to that effect from the GAA National Children’s Office. This letter must be shared with the Club as proof that they have been satisfactorily vetted. The Club must retain the letter, or a copy of the letter, for as long as the individual is working on their behalf with children or vulnerable adults in the Club or as part of the Club’s services e.g. to schools etc. This information should be retained by the Club Children's Officer or Registrar or another nominated person in a safe and confidential place. This letter is only valid until such time as the individual has to undertake re-vetting in accordance with the re-vetting directives of the Act or of the Association.
18 What about re-vetting, previously vetted and retrospective vetting? The Act provides for the re-vetting of ‘employees’ which by definition includes volunteers. However, retrospective vetting of current volunteers/employees who have not yet been vetted will be prioritised over re-vetting. It may be that an order to enable re-vetting (in the Act) may not be signed for a number of years. The GAA is supportive of a re-vetting and will insist that all persons who undertake the vetting process shall be re-vetted within a five year time period.
Each Club/County Children’s Officer will be informed as to when we will commence the re-
vetting of personnel in the GAA and this will take place in an agreed and coordinated manner.
· The GAA deems that any person vetted by us prior to the commencement of the Vetting Bureau Act has been vetted in good standing and that this vetting remains in place until they have been re-vetted by us under the new Act. Once vetted under the new Act an individual will be subject to the terms of the new Act and will also have to be re-vetted in accordance with any regulations or re-vetting orders made by the Minister and/or by the GAA.
19 What about vetting for coaches and mentors under 18 years old? · GAA vetting policy is that any person under 18 years of age who assists an adult coach in their duties must also vetted. The consent of a parent/guardian is required for vetting persons under 18 years of age.
20 Is there a fee charged for vetting applicants?
21 Will the current vetting form be changed? · Yes, a revised form, with many additional questions, will be issued and an on-line form is also being considered following the completion of a pilot on-line project Forms will be distributed at local Club level and submitted to the GAA National Children’s Office, as per previous procedures, for processing with the Garda Vetting Bureau on our behalf. Confidentiality GAA personnel may be assured that all vetting applications received from our members will be processed in a confidential manner. Where an application from individual results in a disclosure detailing criminal records or specified information relating to the applicant, the GAA may consider and take into account the information disclosed when assessing the suitability of the person to do relevant work or activities on our behalf.
Further information: · For information on vetting applications made by the GAA to the Garda Vetting Bureau contact: Gearóid Ó MaoilmhichílGAA National Children’s Office, Croke Park, Dublin 3 Tel: (01) 836 3222 nationalchildrensoffice@gaa.ie
· For information on AccessNI criminal record disclosure services please contact: Ulster GAA, 8-10 Market Street, Armagh BT61 7BX. Tel: 028 375 21900 bernie.fox.ulster@gaa.ie |