The Minister for Justice says he has given security companies 120 days to draw up a voluntary code of standard relating to training, equipment and security for cash in transit deliveries.
If they fail to adopt this voluntary code, then Michael McDowell said he would draw up legislation which would license only those who reach an acceptable standard.
The minister also told the representatives of banks that they will have to contribute more to the cost of armed escorts for cash in transit deliveries.
The cost of such operations is currently €9m annually and Mr McDowell has said he told banks that they would have to pay more than their present contribution of €3m.
The measures follow a meeting held today between Mr McDowell, the Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy, and representatives of banks and the security industry.
The meeting was held after yesterday’s robbery of a Brinks Allied security van in Artane, north Dublin in which €2.7m was stolen.
The incident is the latest in a series of cash-in-transit raids which has not only yielded millions for armed gangs but also threatened the lives of security staff and the general public.
Ahead of the meeting, the Managing Director of Brinks Allied in Ireland, Alan Jordan, said that on mature reflection the Minister for Justice might regret some of the comments he made in the aftermath of the robbery.
Yesterday's incident in Artane, north Dublin is the latest in a series of cash-in-transit raids which has not only yielded millions for armed gangs but also threatened the lives of security staff and the general public.
Meanwhile, SIPTU has warned that cash deliveries and ATM services could be disrupted because of a protest by cash-in-transit security staff.
Branch Secretary Kevin McMahon said that the 600 staff working in the industry were angry that their fears over health and safety were being minimised in the aftermath of yesterday's robbery.
Mr McMahon said that members plan to hold a meeting on Friday 8 April at Liberty Hall in Dublin to discuss their health and safety concerns.
If significant numbers of staff from security firms attend the meeting, cash deliveries could be disrupted, as would ATM services on the weekend of 9 and 10 April.
