Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 192: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action he will take with other Government Departments who are using contractors to carry out the approved works of installing alarms or providing security services who are not registered with the Private Security Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6780/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The regulation of the private security industry is the responsibility of the statutorily independent Private Security Authority (PSA). The PSA has extensive statutory powers of enforcement under the Private Security Services Act of 2004. These powers are mainly set out in Sections 37 and 38 of the Act. It is an offence to contravene the provisions of either of these sections. A person who contravenes Sections 37 or 38 of the Act is guilty of an offence. The maximum penalties that can be imposed following conviction on indictment are an unlimited fine and/or up to 5 years in prison. Two security providers have been successfully prosecuted to date under Section 37 of the Act.