Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 532: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding offences under Section 44 of the Private Securities Services Act, 2004 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25610/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Private Security Authority (PSA), is an independent body under the aegis of my Department, responsible for the licensing and regulation of the private security industry.

Section 44 of the Private Security Services Act 2004 and 2011 is a section of that part of the legislation which deals with security services provided by certain persons from EU member states and refers to a 'relevant person' who has been convicted of an offence or against whom proceedings for such an offence are pending. A "relevant person" is defined by Section 42 of the Act as a person who holds a licence or other form of authorisation from a corresponding authority in a member state of the European Communities which has functions substantially corresponding to those of the PSA, and is designated as such an authority by the PSA.

I am informed that the Authority has not received any applications for a licence from a "relevant person" as defined in Section 42 of the Act, and the question of a prosecution under Section 44 of the legislation has not arisen.

The Deputy will appreciate, in any event, that it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual cases of the kind referred to by him nor on cases which are before the Private Security Appeal Board.