Self-regulation has been the hallmark of the upper echelons of the private security industry for many years.
Representative bodies such as the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA), the National Union of Security Employers (NUSE) and the Security Institute of Ireland have all attempted to raise standards.
However, the involvement of undesirables has blighted attempts to legitimise the industry. The Department of Justice estimates 400 security companies operate in Ireland, employing 15,000 people full-time.
The Private Security Services Bill 2001 provides for the establishment of an authority to control access to the sector with the aim of maintaining and improving standards. Under the Bill, the authority will operate a new licensing system for providers of security services and establish a register of licence-holders.
A company employing a service provider or contracting an individual without a licence would have committed an offence subject to a fine of up to £1,500 and/or a sentence of up to 12 months for a first offence.
"Without this Bill, Ireland would have found itself as one of the only countries in Europe without legislation for the private security industry," said Mr Grahame Pickett, president of ISIA.
Mr Barry Brady, also of ISIA, said he hoped to be able to send people who contacted the association after being "hoodwinked by cowboys" to an authority which could deal with the complaint.
The industry has four main sectors: service security, the fitting of alarms and CCTV, the manufacture and distribution of the equipment and the monitoring of systems already installed. The public often perceives private security as door security at bars and nightclubs, or bouncers. Mr Bill Brown, chairman of NUSE, which represents smaller firms which provide personal services, said door security was not attractive to top companies, as an estimated 90 per cent of the business operated in the black market. "There is little interest in it at the moment but you may see more companies being prepared to look at it, as became the case in many European countries when legislation was introduced," he said.
The involvement of paramilitaries working as bouncers was highlighted by the killing in August of INLA member Nicky O'Hare in Dundalk. He operated a lucrative door security business in premises from the north-east to Dublin.
The need for certification by a Garda superintendent and the fact that the authority can re quest details of criminal convictions will deter many from seeking licences. Licence-holders are also obliged to inform the authority of subsequent convictions.