Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on imposing a mandatory code of practice for cash-in-transit security companies to replace the voluntary code of practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15688/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Private Security Authority was established under the Private Security Services Act 2004 to regulate the private security industry. One of its principal functions under the Act is to licence companies and persons providing a whole range of security services. The authority has already commenced licensing contractors providing private security services in the door supervisor and security guarding areas as well as licensing for suppliers and installers of intruder alarms.

I understand that the authority proposes to licence all other sectors of the industry on a phased basis including the cash-in-transit sector. It is my understanding that the cash-in-transit licensing will commence later this year.

Last year, I called on the main players in the cash-in-transit sector of the industry, which included the financial institutions, security companies, the Garda Síochána and the Central Bank, to draw up an agreement, on a voluntary basis that would see the industry operating to the highest international standards. The agreement was signed last June and progress towards implementation was made in the course of the last year.

It was intended to introduce licensing of the cash movement sector at the end of a voluntary compliance period where the industry would be given time within which to bring its standards up to the requisite approved standards, which would form the basis for licensing.

Following the recent incidents involving cash-in-transit vehicles I have had discussions with the Garda Commissioner, the chief executive of the Private Security Authority, representatives of the financial institutions, representatives of the cash-in-transit companies and SIPTU, representing workers in the industry. It is quite clear to me, that while some progress has been made, and while considerable moneys are being invested in improving the security of cash movements, a radical lapse in standards had occurred during these incidents. As a result, the chief executive of the Private Security Authority has advised me that she will bring forward proposals for the introduction of mandatory licensing as soon as possible.

I should say to the Deputy that it is not simply a case of replacing the agreed voluntary code of practice with a new one. The objectives of the agreed voluntary code of practice are to ensure the highest standards of operation in the industry and the implementation of integrated end-to-end solutions to create safe secure and efficient cash handling. I understand that adherence to the code of practice will be an integral part of the licensing regime and that companies which do not comply with the code of practice will not be licensed to operate in the cash movement sector.