'Even Jesus would have to register now' - McDonnell

Independent representative Randal McDonnell was speaking at a meeting of Moyle Council in Ballycastle where councillors were told of a new 'Vetting and Barring Scheme' (VBS) which is set to start this summer.

Cllr McDonnell said: "There was a man called Jesus Christ who said suffer little children to come unto me. Now, Jesus would have to get registered."

A Moyle Council report gave details of the registration scheme.

It said: 'The HR Manager attended a Roadshow organised by the Home Office on the new Vetting and Barring Regulations which comes into force later on this year. This new scheme will enable "barred" people to be removed from all activity with vulnerable groups and will have a continuous updating of the registration status.

'The VBS is a partnership involving the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), AccessNI and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and overseen by the Home Office. AccessNI and CRB are responsible for the ISA registration application process; CRB will manage the monitoring elements of the Scheme across NI, England and Wales; and the ISA are responsible for the decision making and maintenance of two barred lists – one for those barred from working with children and one for those barred from working with vulnerable adults.

'Employers have a duty to refer to the ISA any information about individuals who may pose a risk ensuring potential threats to vulnerable groups can be identified and dealt with.

'All employees who will be working with children and vulnerable adults in a "regulated activity" will legally be required to be registered with the ISA. It will be an offence for an employer to hire a person in regulated activity without first being registered with the ISA.

'A regulated activity is the statutory term used to describe working or volunteering with children or vulnerable adults. The definition involves contact with children or vulnerable adults and is of a specified nature (e.g. teaching, supervision, transport etc) in a specified place (schools, recreation centres etc) where that activity is frequent, intensive and / or overnight (e.g. once a week, takes place on 4 days in one month or more).

'Timescales:- July 2010 - Individual registration starts; November 2010 - Mandatory to have registration for new starters; April 2011 -Registration extends to current workforce; April 2015 - All current employees must be registered.

'Differences between current checks and new ISA scheme - when a person becomes ISA-registered, they will be continuously monitored and their status reassessed against any new information which may come to light. Employers will be continuously informed of changes in an employee's registration status.

'The cost for applying for registration will be 58. This includes the cost of an AccessNI enhanced disclosure.

'The fee is an one-off cost as the registration will apply to future settings where the person is working with children or vulnerable adults ie. it is portable.

'Therefore, it has been proposed across the Councils that the Council will pay the 30 of the fee which would cover the enhanced disclosure check, and the new employee will be asked to pay the remaining 28. The Council will pay the full cost for current employees who will have to be registered under the scheme,' said the Moyle Council report.