Enhanced Background Checks – Irish Aviation Industry (15/2/22)

The implementation of EU Commission Regulation 2019-103 which amended the provisions of EU Commission Regulation 2015/1998 introduced ‘Enhanced Background Checks’ commonly known as ‘Security Vetting’ for employees of the Irish Aviation Industry in accordance with EU Law with the objective of enhancing Internal EU Security by mitigating and reducing the potential risk of domestic or international terrorist targeting the EU Aviation Industry.  

EU Commission Regulation 2019-103 came into effect in the European Union on the 1st of January, 2022 thus placing a legal obligation on the State and An Garda Síochána, as the Competent Vetting Authority to perform the function of conducting ‘Standard Background Checks’ and ‘Enhanced Background Checks’ received from the daa – who have been designated by the Department of Transport as the Central Processing Authority. 

A “Standard Background Check” is a check on an individual’s Criminal Convictions & pending Court cases. 

The Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) are responsible for completing “standard background checks” applications received from the daa, which is one (1) element of an Enhanced Background Check.  An Garda Síochána has indicated that times for ‘Standard Background Checks’ for the Irish Aviation Industry will be in-line with normal vetting processing Turn-around Times. 

An Garda Síochána publishes regular statistical information on the GNVB on the Garda website.  Vetting processing Turn-around Times, are currently approximately 7 to 8 Working Days, once the properly completed application is received by the GNVB.   GNVB Aviation Vetting Stage 1 Statistics can be found here. 

An “Enhanced Background Check” is a further Security Check and is carried out through the Security Vetting Unit within the Garda National Crime & Security Intelligence Service (GNCSIS). 

It is not possible to give indicative Turn-around Times on “Enhanced Background Checks” as each case is individual and depends on a range of variable factors including on whether the applicant has resided outside the state or not, and in how many countries or addresses an applicant may have resided at.  International addresses, necessitate liaison with international agencies, over which An Garda Síochána has no control. 

An Garda Síochána has developed a dedicated IT Platform to facilitate the submission of Applications from the DAA to the GNVB for Stage 1 of the process [‘Standard Background Checks’ – Criminal Convictions and pending Court Cases] and to the GNCSIS for Stage 2 of the process (Security Check). 

An Garda Síochána is committed to ensuring that sufficient resources are in place at both the GNVB and GNCSIS to process applications. 

An Garda Síochána continues to engage with  the daa, Irish Aviation Industry, National Civil Aviation Security Committee and the Department of Transport.