Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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291. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to implement licensing for private investigators in view of the fact that the legislation currently refers to the area in very limited terms and effectively allows for anyone to advertise their services as a private investigator, potentially putting a client or a case at risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36889/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Private Security Authority (PSA), established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, as amended, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry in Ireland. The Authority has adopted a phased approach to the licensing of the sector and currently licenses in the region of 960 contractors and 28,000 individuals in a range of sectors including the Cash in Transit, Door Supervisor and Security Guarding sectors.

I am informed by the PSA that the Authority issued a questionnaire to the industry last year to gather information on the Private Investigator sector. Furthermore, the Authority's Strategic Plan 2014 - 2017 gives a commitment that a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) on the licensing of Private Investigators will be carried out by the end of this year. Following completion of the RIA, a decision will be taken regarding licensing of the sector.