Civil Service and Criminal Record

MR_Tibbler

hi everyone, I am looking for information on getting a job in the civil service while having a criminal record. I have a record for some minor offences from years ago, couple of drunken disorderly offences and no road tax. I seen mention of filling out a character self declaration form. If i have a record does that mean i will not be employed even if I am otherwise qualified for the position?

If anyone has information on this, I would be extremely grateful.

Thank you

Slydice

I actually don't know if they won't employ you.

They've been doing garda vetting on their competitions and even seem to request vetting from foreign law enforcement if people have been living abroad.

This is the first time I've ever read up on it. Here's the citizens information page:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/monitoring_and_surveillance_at_work/garda_clearance_for_employees.html

The only bit that seems relevant to work being done is this:

This duty to notify your employer relates primarily to sex offenders guilty of offences committed in Ireland and abroad. Section 26 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001 makes it an offence for a sex offender to "apply for work or to perform a service (including State work or service) which involves having unsupervised access to, or contact with children or mentally impaired people without telling the prospective employer or contractor that you are a sex offender".

The data protection office has a bit on it here:
https://www.dataprotection.ie/docs/Data-Protection-in-the-Workplace/1239.htm#1

It says this:

However, an employer should only be concerned about convictions that relate to the particular job on offer. For example, a job involving driving may justify the employer asking about previous driving convictions.

So my reading of it would be that it depends on:
what job you are going for [Versus] what is on your criminal record

It'd be hard to give you a yes/no right off. No harm going for the job anyway and see what they say. If you don't get the job, ask why.

MR_Tibbler

Thank you for taking the time to make such a detailed response. I going to keep going and hope for the best. I haven't had a drink for over ten years because I was such a dope on it. I've also gone back to college and got a couple of degrees in the mean time in a very relevant field. Hopefully that will go for me.

Stheno

MR_Tibbler wrote: »

Thank you for taking the time to make such a detailed response. I going to keep going and hope for the best. I haven't had a drink for over ten years because I was such a dope on it. I've also gone back to college and got a couple of degrees in the mean time in a very relevant field. Hopefully that will go for me.

You might find it useful to go to the legal discussion forum and ask if legislation has come in to remove minor convictions from a record after a certain amount of years.

It was proposed but I don't know if it did come in

MR_Tibbler

I will look into it. Thank you

perfectisthe

The Spent Convictions Act is still at committee stage as far as I understand it. It's taking a very long time - it's been in the works since 2007!

On the plus side, there's been an administrative filter put in place for garda vetting. This means that certain convictions are not disclosed. It's not perfect, but it's a start. Depending on how long ago your conviction was OP, it might benefit you.

You'll find info on it here -

http://www.garda.ie/Documents/User/Garda%20Vetting%20Procedures%20-Aministration%20Filter.pdf

Stheno

perfectisthe wrote: »

The Spent Convictions Act is still at committee stage as far as I understand it. It's taking a very long time - it's been in the works since 2007!

On the plus side, there's been an administrative filter put in place for garda vetting. This means that certain convictions are not disclosed. It's not perfect, but it's a start. Depending on how long ago your conviction was OP, it might benefit you.

You'll find info on it here -

http://www.garda.ie/Documents/User/Garda%20Vetting%20Procedures%20-Aministration%20Filter.pdf

That's the act I was thinking of thanks!

MR_Tibbler

That is exactly what I was looking for and has put my mind at ease. Thank you very much

perfectisthe

MR_Tibbler wrote: »

That is exactly what I was looking for and has put my mind at ease. Thank you very much

No bother, good luck with the job.