Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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470. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality why certain security companies are being issued private security authority licences when they are failing to honour section 3.6, 'Compliance with Legislation', of the PSA licencing requirements, specifically subsection 3.6.1/13 - Compliance with Employment Regulation Orders (ERO); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3368/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Private Security Authority (PSA), an independent body under the aegis of my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for licensing and regulating the private security industry in Ireland. I am advised by the PSA that the current Employment Regulation Order (ERO), came into effect in 2017 (S.I. 231 of 2017) and the PSA checks for compliance with this ERO as part of its inspection regime. Contractors found to be in breach of the ERO by the PSA face a range of sanctions up to and including the revocation of their licence.

I am further advised by the PSA that the High Court granted an injunction prohibiting the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment from commencing the proposed Statutory Instrument giving effect to a new Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for the Security Industry. Accordingly, as the new ERO is not currently in force compliance with its proposed provisions do not form part of the PSA licensing and inspection regime .