Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2026
150. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his plans to review the operation of the Private Securities Act 2004; to examine the operation of the provisions of the Act with respect to the training and powers of private security personnel, including in relation to the safeguards regarding the use of physical restraint or disproportionate force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40428/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Private Security Services Act, 2004 (as amended) provides the legal basis for the regulation and licensing of sectors of the private security industry in Ireland.
The Private Security Authority (PSA), established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing and related standards such as training within the private security industry.
The Authority is a statutorily independent body operating under the aegis of my Department. There are no plans currently in place to review the operation of the Private Security Services Act 2004 (as amended). The Act was amended by Part 4 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 and by the Private Security Services (Amendment) Act 2021.
The minimum training requirements for private security personnel are specified by the Private Security Authority under S.I. 204 of 2024. The Regulations require individuals, wishing to apply for a licence in the Door Supervisor, Security Guard (Guarding) and Event Security sectors, to hold a national training qualification that is certified by QQI. The course for security guarding is a QQI Level 4 Award (Guarding Skills – 4N20604). The training covers, among other things, the role of security guards, managing conflict and aggression, the law on powers of arrest and use of reasonable force. It is designed to give the learner the knowledge to understand the law and respond correctly in retail or static guarding situations. The course does not cover physical intervention or control and restraint as there are no extra powers under the Private Security Services Acts 2004 to 2021 for security personnel to detain, restrain or physically control individuals. In that respect, security personnel are in the same position as any other person in the use of reasonable force when a crime is being committed.
