Parliamentary Question addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if her examination of key policy, legislative, administrative and other issues relating to firearms licensing will affect the licensing of CCTV monitoring centres that is due to come into effect on 1 November 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter?

Reply

I can inform the Deputy that the current review of key issues relating to firearms licensing will not affect arrangements for the licensing of CCTV monitoring centres. From 1 November 2014 those contractors who provide a CCTV monitoring centre service will require a licence from the Private Security Authority (PSA). The PSA is an independent agency under the remit of my Department established under the Private Security Services Acts, 2004 and 2011. It is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry.

I am aware that the Deputy raised questions previously in relation to a Firearms Regulation, namely the Firearms (Secure Accommodation) Regulations, S.I. 307 of 2009.   These Regulations set out minimum standards governing the secure storage of licensed firearms in the home. Consultations with An Garda Síochána and the PSA, in relation to issues previously raised by the Deputy regarding jamming devices being used to neutralise the effectiveness of alarms supported by GSM, are nearing conclusion. I hope to be in a position to finalise regulations to address these issues with the Office of the Attorney General in the near future.