There was no evidence that sex offenders from other jurisdictions were abusing the system here, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern insisted.
He said he had checked the matter with the Department of Justice and Garda authorities who had assured him that was not the case.
"We have had very close co-operation for many years and these issues have been highlighted previously. There is close co-operation between the Garda authorities. It is wrong to say that a system is not in place for tracking sex offenders who come here from Great Britain or Northern Ireland.
"Any sex offender coming to this country from Great Britain or Northern Ireland is obliged by law to notify the Garda of his or her whereabouts, not to mind the co-operation that takes place between the police authorities. Failure to do so carries a penalty of imprisonment. That obligation extends to any sex offender entering this jurisdiction from abroad who has an obligation to register in his or her own country. If a person does not register in his or her own country, that is picked up also in the international system."
Mr Ahern said a system was in place to monitor offenders who were subject to those notification requirements. This meant that nominated Garda inspectors in each Garda division were notified when a registered offender came to live in their division. Those officers were responsible for monitoring, and did monitor, such offenders.
"When offenders go on the sex offenders' register, the convictions are recorded on the Garda computer system - Pulse - even if those offenders had committed their crimes in another jurisdiction. This means that offenders' criminal records would show up in any vetting process, including if they sought work in any of the vulnerable areas such as schools or health services where they might have access to children.
"It is wrong to suggest that a sex offender convicted abroad who seeks a job working with children or vulnerable adults could beat the vetting system.
"If the offence is on the vetting system it will come up, as would any offence committed in another jurisdiction, just as it would come up if it occurred in the west or in the middle of my constituency."
The Taoiseach was replying to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who said that Irish law and enforcement measures should be on a par with the approach adopted by the UK, given the common travel area that existed between both jurisdictions.
The issue had been highlighted on the front page of a major newspaper, he said.
There was generally great fear, anxiety and concern on the part of parents throughout the State about the way the issue was regulated and about the legislation in place, Mr Kenny added.
