Garda Vetting

Kung Fu

Hoping someone can give me some advice. I want to teach kids classes but know that I need Garda vetting. I went to my local Garda station and they told me to write a letter to the Garda Central Vetting Unit in Thurles. I did so and basically they told me to go to the Irish Martial Arts Commission to start the application process. However I am not a member of IMAC. Do I need to join or is there another way to obtain vetting?

I also see that IMAC prohibits involvement in MMA by its members. Does this mean that anyone teaching MMA/BJJ, etc to students under 18 does not have vetting or again, is there another way to obtain vetting? I just want to know what my options are and don't want to jump through hoops if I don't have to.

Mellor

It all sounds very strange tbh.
You need be registered with the Garda Vetting program, and to do so you must be registered with IMAC. But in order to register with IMAC you can't "engage in Mixed Martial Arts or other combat focused activities".
"Combat focused" rules out a huge number of MAs.
Sounds like a conflict of interest imo.

challengemaster

There is no such thing as individual or once-off vetting - vetting is specific for the person AND organisation which they will be working at. If that person changes jobs (company), they have to be re-vetted.

The vetting process has to be initiated by the organisation involved. When you say you wish to teach kids, I assume you want to start your own MA/MMA school of sorts? If so, you need to set this company/organisation up and then apply to have the organisation vetted.

What is the procedure for seeking Garda Vetting for an organisation?
If you are an organisation seeking Garda Vetting for your personnel, the Chief Executive Officer or Managing Director of the organisation should write to the Garda Central Vetting Unit providing the following details:-
A description of the service provided by the organisation
The approximate number of personnel requiring vetting per annum
The level of substantial unsupervised access personnel will have to children and/or vulnerable adults
Any additional relevant information e.g. organisational literature or certificates of registration in respect of charitable status
On receipt of this information, the Garda Central Vetting Unit will respond directly to the applicant organisation.

Vetting itself can take months to process.

KyuzoMMA

Hi OP

Our club is Garda vetted via the Irish Amateur Wrestling Association and before that affiliation our coaches were vetted through their work in the private and public sector.

We are also members of the IAPA.

Maybe you could explore those avenues?

Peetrik

I attended the IMAC vetting. There were some people being vetted that were unrelated to MA so it might not be that big a deal if you're not connected to a recognised org.
They seem fairly approachable tbh. You could just get in touch with them and ask if you can attend the next time they are doing the course.

yomchi

Peetrik wrote: »

I attended the IMAC vetting. There were some people being vetted that were unrelated to MA so it might not be that big a deal if you're not connected to a recognised org.
They seem fairly approachable tbh. You could just get in touch with them and ask if you can attend the next time they are doing the course.

There is no course for the Garda Vetting procedure. I think you might be thinking of a code of ethics for childer in sport course.

Garda Vetting is done through the IMAC GV officer, they send you forms, you send them back. That's as far as it goes.

Peetrik

yomchi wrote: »

There is no course for the Garda Vetting procedure. I think you might be thinking of a code of ethics for childer in sport course.

Yep 100%. I and other attendees filled out the Garda vetting forms at the code of ethics course to participate in the IMAC National Vetting Process which is a requirement for MA clubs coaching young people. Was easier to just say "attended the IMAC vetting".

Same point though, there were people being vetted that weren't IMAC members, they could well be happy enough to vet you regardless of membership status.

Matt KSW

i was getting vetted through the federation of irish sports, but they no longer do it. they advised me that Barnardoes will vet individuals, might be an idea to contact them.
I also contacted IMAC a few years ago about vetting, and they told me that i had to have Tae Kwon Do as my governing body to get vetted, which wouldn't work (it would be like telling the GAA that they had to be run by FIFA) it is very hard to get vetted as an individual, or as an organisation that is not part of IMAC.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on

yomchi

Hmmm I dunno there seems to be bum info flying around in relation to Garda Vetting. I'm a CPO with a different club and a different sport to my martial arts and within the martial arts I have Garda Vetting along with 6 of my black belts so I've been through the procedure a good few times. The procedure in relation to IMAC is very simple. However outside of a governing body it can be quite tedious to complete.

Couple of points, although I am not saying any of the info above is wrong, it just seems a bit left of centre.

Yep 100%. I and other attendees filled out the Garda vetting forms at the code of ethics course to participate in the IMAC National Vetting Process which is a requirement for MA clubs coaching young people. Was easier to just say "attended the IMAC vetting".

In relation to getting GV forms filled out at a child protection course: yes this can be done, but IMAC won't except them unless they are signed by a member of the IMAC committee and/or your advisory board (the martial art body that you are a member of and which is a member of IMAC). This is a vouching procedure, basically someone says they know you and you're a member in good standing.
It's the same with other NGB's, however it might be different when dealing with Garda vetting as an individual.
Did you get a GV certificate from IMAC with your GV number?

I also contacted IMAC a few years ago about vetting, and they told me that i had to have Tae Kwon Do as my governing body to get vetted

Why would they just throw Taekwon-Do out there as the style you would have to join? Again I think you've been given bum info on this. You can be a member of any of the martial arts that have membership of IMAC.
Taekwon-Do is just one, there are plenty more Aikido, Muay Thai, Wushu, Karate to name a few.

I would suggest contacting Brendan Dowling directly, he is very helpful in these matters - president[at]imac.ie

cheers

cletus

Hey yomchi, just reading your post there and I was wondering how do IMAC reconcile not accepting mma or other ' combat focused' ma's with the fact that they recognise Muay Thai

yomchi

cletus wrote: »

Hey yomchi, just reading your post there and I was wondering how do IMAC reconcile not accepting mma or other ' combat focused' ma's with the fact that they recognise Muay Thai

No idea mate, I'm not on the IMAC committee. I don't agree with it, but I'm not involved centrally to know why.

Matt KSW

yomchi wrote: »

Why would they just throw Taekwon-Do out there as the style you would have to join? Again I think you've been given bum info on this. You can be a member of any of the martial arts that have membership of IMAC.
Taekwon-Do is just one, there are plenty more Aikido, Muay Thai, Wushu, Karate to name a few.

I would suggest contacting Brendan Dowling directly, he is very helpful in these matters - president[at]imac.ie

cheers

Hi Yomchi
The reason IMAC told me i had to be under Irish Tae Kwon Do as a governing body, and not any other art, is because i teach a Korean Martial Art. i explained to them that my Art has it's own worldwide governing body with over 1.3 million members across 27 different countries, and was infact nothing like Tae Kwon Don, and could i get my organisation registered with IMAC. but was told "no" and that i had to have Tae Kwon Do as my governing body to get Garda Vetting.
Not very helpful.
IMAC seems great if you practice a martial art on "their" list, but of no help if you don't.
it's not easy in this country to get Garda Vetted

thedooner

I recently went for GV and had no idea what I needed to get this. But,after talking to John Murphy I had my GV in a week at the cost of 10 euro.emailed him twice and talked on the phone twice as well and what a gentleman he is. explained it in layman's terms and how the law works. Below is his email to me and his details,I will also put up a new post under Garda Vetting for individuals also. Hello B,

Good to talk to Mayo people again and hoping things will go in your favour in Croke Park this year.

I have attached the vetting form for you and a document which tells you how to complete it. Print the
form, complete and sign it and send it to me in the post at address below. I will charge you €10 and the
outcome will be posted back to you in about two to three weeks. You keep that document as proof you are
vetted for what you do, but other Organisations may want you vetted by them for what they do - that is how
the new law works. What you do in advance of the new law will cover the requirements of the law when it commences.

Please send me a photocopy of your driving licence or passport as proof of identity when you are returning the
application form. If you need any more information or help, feel welcome to ring me anytime.

Best Regards,
John Murphy
United Vetting Consortium
Limerick 087-7986502.

Niall Keane

cletus wrote: »

Hey yomchi, just reading your post there and I was wondering how do IMAC reconcile not accepting mma or other ' combat focused' ma's with the fact that they recognise Muay Thai

They barred ICBA from membership years ago too, on the basis that sanda was too close to MMA.

Its amazing that a martial arts governing body funded by the sports council , and sports being defacto competitive in nature and combat sports / martial arts often involving strikes and throws and outside of the the 1980's BS semi-contact fads being full-contact that IMAC has survived at all.

I can only reconcile this illogical stance with the presumption that the vast majority of martial artists in Ireland are fantasists involved in semi-contact / no- contact etc. And the "tyranny of the weak", where the weak here hope to hide from their "customers" the reality of their "to dangerous for sport" deception!

Isn't their CEO an Aikido lad? And isn't Aikido "non-competitive"? and isn't that the antithesis of a "sport"???

Can open... worms everywhere....

Peetrik

Niall Keane wrote: »

Isn't their CEO an Aikido lad? And isn't Aikido "non-competitive"? and isn't that the antithesis of a "sport"???

I've spoken to the gent in question, Brendan, a good few times, very likeable guy. If I remember right, he had reckoned the reason they were accepted by the other sports to be the CEO of the IMAC was precisely because they were Aikido and no one felt threatened by them.

I've no experience in dealing with him on a club/competition level though so I've no opinion there.

Niall Keane wrote: »

Can open... worms everywhere....

LOL