Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a list of registered debt collectors, bailiffs and other private security firms at December 31 2012 and for the law in relation to Garda vetting of debt collectors, bailiffs and other private security firms employed by agents of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7398/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that the Private Security Authority, established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, as amended, is the statutory body responsible for the regulation and licensing of the private security industry in the State. The Authority is an independent statutory agency under the aegis of my Department. A register of licensed contractors and individuals is available on the Authority’s website.

In regard to the regulation and licensing of the private security industry by the Authority, I am informed that the vetting of applicants is an integral part of the licensing process as provided for in the relevant legislation. In the case of contractor licensing, all directors of a company, the partners in a partnership, all sole traders and any shareholder in a company with a shareholding of 20% or more are vetted, on the Authority's behalf, by An Garda Síochána. All applicants for individual licences also go through the vetting process. The Private Security Services Acts do not provide for debt collectors or bailiffs. Moreover, as these activities do not fall under the aegis of my Department I have no responsibility to the Dáil for these matters.

The Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting for approximately 20,000 organisations in Ireland which employ personnel to work in a full time part time, voluntary or student capacity with children and or vulnerable adults. Criminal history vetting for general employment purposes including debt collectors is not available on demand.