Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have used my first 30 seconds to walk up here because the clock is moving a lot quicker than I thought it was. I thank the Whip's office for alerting me that my slot was coming up. As I have just jogged up the quays, I have done all my exercise for the day to get back here in time.

This is important legislation. We have all seen a number of horrible and unsavoury evictions take place in recent years where private security personnel have arrived at people's doors. The whole area has been largely unregulated until now and this Bill proposes to bring a whole umbrella of regulation under the Private Security Authority and to increase certain powers under that legislation in order that licences to operate private security firms can be revoked. That is important because I have seen it happen only once or twice in my constituency and I will not get into the cases because it will make them identifiable. However, there have been a number of headline cases around the country.

Another thing that needs to be looked at in how these firms operate is how they present themselves at someone's door. We have seen them masked or wearing balaclavas and that is the height of intimidation. There are certain organisations in the country that wear balaclavas as a form of illegal and subversive uniform. When one is carrying out actions on behalf of the judicial system of our land in executing a court order, one should present oneself on a person's driveway or at a person's front door in a face-to-face and transparent manner. That is really important.

The legislation is being backed by the Government. The sooner we can bring in regulation the better because people need to know that the people they are transacting with are kosher and above board. A number of our national tabloid newspapers have undertaken certain exposé stories on some of these private security firms and the backgrounds of some of these individuals. There needs to be a lot of time devoted to ensuring they are fully Garda-vetted and that appropriate and upstanding people are taking on these roles. We do not want thugs or gurriers donning uniforms and masks and arriving at someone's door. This is fulfilling a court order execution and we need to have competent and professional people who are regulated. That is, above all, what this Bill seeks to do.

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