Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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1058. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality what engagement he has had with the Private Security Authority on the need to include the sheriff in the carrying out of evictions, and the provisions of the Eviction (Ireland) Act 1848 in its newly issued guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18336/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Private Security Services (Amendment) Act 2021 brings the regulation and licensing of security personnel assisting those enforcing court orders for evictions and repossessions within the remit of the Private Security Authority. The Act was signed into law by the President on 12 July 2021.

The main provision of the Act is the insertion of an additional category and a definition of ‘enforcement guard’ in the list of security services covered by the Private Security Services Act 2004.  This will require enforcement guards to obtain a licence to operate and ensure that they are subject to the training standards and licensing regime operated by the Private Security Authority (PSA).

As the Deputy will be aware, the 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.

The licensing of contractors operating as enforcement guards has now commenced.  Contractors seeking a licence from the PSA must be tax compliant, are subject to Garda vetting and must meet requirements of the standards prescribed for licensing. For enforcement guards, the standard is “PSA Licensing Requirements Enforcement Guards (PSA 91:2022)”. The standard covers areas such as the structure and ownership of the business, staffing and training of employees as well as operational matters.

The Private Security Services (Amendment) Act 2021 has no impact on the role of sheriffs.

Sheriffs or County Registrars acting as Sheriffs are responsible to the Court for the enforcement of court orders. Sheriffs are officers of the court and are independent in the exercise of their functions and duties under statute and rules of court.