asked the Minister for Justice the plans that are in hand for the registration of concerns offering services as security companies; and when the necessary legislation will be introduced.

As I indicated to the Deputy in my reply to Question No. 30 of 2nd December, 1976, this is a matter which I am having examined.

I am not yet in a position to say whether I will have proposals for legislation. Preliminary consideration suggests that it would be difficult to devise a system of control that would yield worthwhile results at reasonable cost without excessive interference with the normal commercial freedom of the firms concerned.

May I ask the Minister if the reported shortage of gardaí is encouraging the growth of this type of organisation and is this desirable?

Irrespective of the number of gardaí, this is a development which was going to come in any event. Even in countries where there is a very high level of policing, whether they be paramilitary police or civil police as we know them, there are a considerable number of these private security firms. I do not think there is any connection between the two. This is something which was going to happen anyway.