There have been "serious lapses" in the standards of the agreed voluntary code of practice among the security industry in recent times, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said today.
Mr McDowell was speaking this afternoon after holding talks with representatives from the banking and private security sectors in Dublin. The talks follow a series of armed robbery attempts on cash delivery vans over the past 10 days.
Michael McDowell
He said although there had been "some progress" on what was agreed last year, "there was a need, to ensure the continuous improvement in standards on the part of the financial institutions and the security companies".
The voluntary code of practice agreement was reached last year between the banks, security companies and the Garda to regulate the security industry.
The Minister described today's meeting as "positive and informative", adding that he had impressed upon the parties the priority of ensuring that the movement of cash in the State would be governed by best practise.
Mr McDowell said he supported the decision of the chief executive of the private security authority to bring forward licensing for the cash-on-transit sector sector of the industry.
The Minister also said he was "sympathetic" to the use of bus lanes by cash-in-transit vehicles and said he would talk with Minister for Transport Martin Cullen to see if it was possible.
