Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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64. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of complaints against private investigators that have been submitted to the Private Security Authority since 1 November 2005 when the licensing of private investigators was introduced; the number of these complaints that have been upheld; the limits of inquiry of the PSA in relation to complaints against private investigators; and if she will consider a legislative review of the sale of spyphone software (details supplied) here. [33978/16]

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 the State. The Authority is an independent body under the aegis of my Department.

Section 39 of the aforementioned legislation provides for the making of complaints against a licensee and sets out the procedures to be followed by the PSA in investigating such complaints. In addition, the PSA also operates a system whereby a person can report a matter to the Authority who, if satisfied that the report is a matter of concern, will investigate it further.

Licensing of contractors working in the private investigator sector became mandatory from 1 November 2015. I am informed by the Authority that since the licensing of this particular sector commenced, the Authority has not received any complaints under Section 39 of the Act that pertain to private investigators. The PSA has however received 5 reports concerning private investigators. Of these reports, I am informed that 4 have been closed following the making of enquiries and one is still under investigation. Of those that have been closed, one related to a matter which did not fall within the remit of the PSA, one related to an entity which was no longer trading and two related to advertising. The reports relating to advertising were followed up on by the Authority and the issues raised were resolved.

The Deputy will appreciate that the sale of spyphone software does not come under the remit of the PSA or indeed my Department.