Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I again put it to the Minister that it is a matter of some public disquiet that over 250 people who have serious criminal records or who failed to disclose the existence of any convictions on the appropriate form were granted licences by the Private Security Authority. I ask that he review this matter.

On a separate but related issue, the fees relating to these licences are far too high, particularly in the current economic downturn. The current cost of a licence is €2,500. In the UK, a similar licence costs €400. These costs, particularly as they relate to small business interests, are far too high. That is another reason I am asking the Minister to review the operations of the authority. We cannot have a situation whereby gangsters are operating as bouncers or are providing private security to firms and other organisations in this city and elsewhere. In disagreeing with the Minister that a review is premature I ask him to change his mind on this issue.

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