Health Minister Michael Mc Gimpsey has announced that the first phase of voluntary registration with the Vetting and Barring Scheme, due to commence in July, has been halted due to the Government's intention to "review the criminal records and vetting and barring regime and scale it back to common sense levels".

Although any progress in the further implementation of the Scheme is on hold, organisations must comply with all current legislative requirements in relation to vetting of staff and volunteers, and making referrals to the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).  These new safeguarding measures were introduced in October 2009 and include:

• a barred person will be breaking the law if they work or volunteer, or try to work or volunteer with vulnerable groups in regulated activity;
• an organisation which knowingly employs a barred person in regulated activity is breaking the law;
• an organisation is required to refer to the ISA an individual who has harmed a child or vulnerable adult, even if they resign, retire or are dismissed from their post.

All organisations must continue to apply safe recruitment and selection procedures and carry out Enhanced Disclosure Checks on relevant staff and volunteers in regulated activity.