Enhanced regulation of security firms is needed – Burke

Enhanced regulation is needed for security companies carrying out court orders, a Fine Gael TD has said. 

Peter Burke, Fine Gael TD for Longford Westmeath, said: “The Private Security Authority (PSA) is the statutory body with responsibility for licensing and regulating the private security industry in Ireland.

“The PSA was established under the Private Security Services Act 2004.

“Under the current legislation the procedures governing the execution of court orders is solely a matter for the Courts and is exempt from PSA oversight.

“This means that the security staff who engaged in the repossession in Dublin last week or security staff engaged any previous repossession order were not subject to any regulation.

“I believe that this is an area that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

“People need to have faith in the institutions of the state which include our judiciary and An Garda Síochána. We need to ensure that court orders are carried out with openness and transparency.

“I understand that while we are in the midst of a housing shortage, this is an issue that people are deeply concerned about.

“I was pleased to see the Commissioner quickly clarify that Gardaí at the scene should not have been wearing flame retardant hoods without helmets.

“The job of the Gardaí is challenging in such a highly charged atmosphere and I hope that lessons are learned from the Frederick Street incident,” Deputy Burke said.