The Private Security Authority (PSA), set up last year by justice minister Michael McDowell to regulate the security industry, confirmed that just 60 of the estimated 400 companies providing bouncers . . . many of which are run by one individual hiring himself out . . .

have to date applied for a license even though they must have one from April 2006 onwards.

The authority admitted that it has received some complaints from businesses who use bouncers that the tough new regulations will create a chronic shortage of bouncers after 1 April, which will result in turmoil on the streets.

But the PSA spokesman said that the aim is to clean up a highly unregulated industry and basic standards must be met if this is to be achieved.

"Are we to continue letting them operate out of the back of a van?" asked the spokesman.

To get a licence from the PSA, one has to be tax compliant, provide agreed standards of security and, most critically of all, the company's board members must be vetted by the gardai for any criminal convictions.

The spokesman said that the 60 applications it has received so far are currently with the garda criminal vetting unit in Thurles.

With regard to bouncers who turn out to have a criminal past, the authority will adopt a case-by-case approach to each application and no hard-and-fast rules will apply.

While serious offences such as murder will disqualify an individual from holding a licence, anyone who has received even a 10-year prison sentence may be granted a licence if the crime happened a long time ago and no reoffending has happened in the meantime.