Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Lappin and wish him every success in setting up his new board and working with the Private Security Authority, PSA. I accept and appreciate that he has not yet begun that work.

A number of electricians in my constituency and elsewhere have been expressing concern over how the authority works, particularly regarding the installation of security alarm systems. Electricians must pass phase 6 in their apprenticeship to be qualified to work with voltages from 0 to 1,000. Electricians claim that the authority is basically denying them the right to practise their trade when they are qualified. They argue that some PSA members are not qualified to work on security or electrical installations as every installation requires working with main voltages. Much of the work, the electricians argue, is not up to the standard set by the Electro-Technical Council of Ireland. The electricians are members of various associations. One is the Registered Electrical Contractors of Ireland, one of whose functions is to ensure that electrical contractors meet the requirements of the CER. Electricians are also members of the Electrical Contractors Safety & Standards Association. The electricians to whom I refer are members of both bodies and have insurance cover for a liability of up to €6.5 million. An electrician can join both the Electrical Contractors Safety & Standards Association and Registered Electrical Contractors of Ireland for a fee of €300 per annum.