andDr. FitzGerald asked the Minister for Justice if he will introduce legislation to provide for the licensing and supervision of those firms which offer for hire private security and policing services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Private Security Services.
46.
I do not propose to introduce legislation on the lines referred to in the question.
Will the Minister not agree that it has now been established that it is a matter of public concern that this legislation should exist and that on the one hand the reputations of reputable firms using their own employees for purely protective purposes should be preserved, and on the other that the activities of other firms recruiting thugs for the purpose of attacking people should be dealt with?
I am not aware that there is any demand on the part of any substantial number of the public for legislation on the lines indicated.
Will the Minister not agree that the events in Hume Street on Sunday week when, in fact, something of this kind happened, caused widespread public concern, so widespread that a Minister of the Government intervened in the matter at that point, very constructively and helpfully, but indeed——
Before the Deputy goes any further I would point out to him that a person has been charged before the courts in connection with some activities in Hume Street at that time and, in fairness to all concerned, the matter should be regarded as sub judice.
Does the Minister not concede that it is quite detrimental to the Garda that there should also be in operation some private strong-arm security firms who regard their rights in regard to security as being almost greater than those of the Garda?
That seems to be a separate question.
Security firms, like any other organisations and like the gardaí, themselves are subject to the law and——
They should be but they are not.
They are subject to the law and I would point out, in the hope that Deputies might respect the rights of the man concerned, that a member of a security firm has been charged and it awaiting trial.
Does the Minister agree that this is not the line taken in regard to private armies, that they are subject to the law and——
(Interruptions.)
That is a separate question.
(Interruptions.)
That is a six-marker.
Is the Minister aware that the lorries or vans of these people have been regularly blocking the streets——
That is——
The question refers to supervision and supervision means how they carry on their operations. I have seen their vans blocking the streets time and again——
Are they outside the law?
As I have already pointed out, security firms, like the gardaí, are subject in the same way as any member of the public to the ordinary application of the law.
They have the privileges of the gardaí.
They have not got the privileges of the gardaí. If any Deputy can give me evidence to that effect I will have the matter investigated.
The evidence is there for the Minister to see.
May we take it that we will not have selective justice in the future?