Credentials and Experience of Martin Stairs
MSc Security and Risk Management.

Martin Stairs MSc is the owner and lead consultant in Martin Stairs Security Consultants Limited, who provide consultancy on all aspects of security and risk management to Commercial, Industrial, Multinational, Semi-State Companies and High Risk/ High Wealth Individuals. Martin has over 40 years’ experience in the Security Industry in the areas of Risk Assessment and the design and development of Security Systems and Procedures he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise which ensures the highest level of quality and expertise in the services we provide.

He was elected Chairman of the Security Consultants division of the Irish Security Industry Association in 2020.

He has provided Expert Witness Reports on Security Matters for Courts Cases over many years, and he has been required to give Expert Witness Evidence in High Court and Circuit Court Cases on numerous occasions.

He was elected President of the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) in 2006 and served for two years (2006 to 2008), during that time I operated at the highest levels of the Security Industry.

Previously (1999 to 2005) Martin served as Chairman of the Electronics Division of the ISIA. The Electronics Division covers all areas of electronic security including Intruder Alarms, CCTV, Access Control and Panic Alarms. During that time, Martin was the Security Industry’s representative on the Electro Technical Council of Ireland (ETCI) Technical Committee 13, which oversees the Irish and European Security Standards (IS199, IS228, EN50131, EN50132, and EN50133).

Martin represented the Security Industry on the Advisory Committee for the Intruder Alarm Certification Scheme as operated by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) this dealt with both the implementation of certification to IS199 and EN50131 Intruder Alarm Standards.

Martin was part of an industry group which worked with An Garda Siochana (Irish Police Force) to develop the Garda Alarm Policy and the Industry Group which worked on and developed SR40 Non-Technical Requirements for licensing of the Electronic Security sector.

During his term as President of the Irish Security Industry Association Martin was in regular contact with the Security Industry Regulator, The Private Security Authority (PSA) on matters of concern to the industry and the PSA.

Martin has over 40 years’ experience in the Electronic Security Industry and in addition during the past 20 years, Martin has been active at the highest level of the Irish Security Industry Association, where he has gained a vast range of experience in Electronic Security Systems and Standards, Manned Guarding, Monitoring Centres and Cash in Transit sectors.

Martin was instrumental in the setting up of Irish Security Industry Training (ISIT) Skillnet which provided training for the Security Industry across all sectors, including Electronic, Guarding, CIT and Monitoring Centres.

Martin was a leading driver of the development of an independently assessed quality standard for the Irish Security Industry called Qualsec which is a continuous improvement quality enhancement standard for security companies in all sectors of the Irish Security Industry Association.

Martin was the Irish Security Industry Association’s director on the Security Congress of Ireland, and he has represented Ireland at European level at the Confederation of European Security Services (CoESS) in Brussels where he sat on the Critical Infrastructure Working Group, this group deals with all security matters for the protection of all items of Critical Infrastructure for the European Union such as Airports, Ports, Railways, Transport, Power, Water and Telecommunications etc.

Martin was the Technical Director of a Security Systems Company from 1986 to 1999 and from 1999 he was the Managing Director. During his term as Managing Director the company became the first company to pilot a Security System Installation for compliance with the new European Standard EN 50131. The company was one of the leading quality-based Security Companies in Ireland. The company was the first to achieve the independently assessed industry specific standard Qualsec Silver. The company was the first to transition from Qualsec Silver to Qualsec Gold and then it was the first Irish Electronic Security Systems Company to achieve Qualsec Platinum. The company was an ISO 9001 Quality System Certified Company.

Appointed to the Board of the Private Security Authority

In 2008 Martin’s experience in the security industry was recognised and acknowledged, at the highest level, when he was appointed by the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the Board of the Private Security Authority which regulates the Security Industry in Ireland. He completed a four-year term on the Board of the Private Security Authority in December 2012.

Association Memberships

Martin is an Affiliate Member of the Chartered Institute of Buildings Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Martin is a member of the American Society of Industrial Security International (ASIS).
Martin was a founder member of the Security Consultants Division of the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA).

Academic Qualifications

Martin holds an MSc (MER) in Security and Risk Management from the Department of Criminology, University of Leicester, England.
Martin completed a Business Diploma (DBS) at the Quinn Business School at University College Dublin in 2010.
Martin holds a Full Technological Certificate from the City and Guilds of London in Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications.
Martin was a Qualified Certifier (QC) for Electrical Installations in accordance with requirements of the Commission for Energy Regulation Criteria Document CER/08/071 his QC Number was QC4208/062016.

Academic Teaching

Martin has lectured at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street, Dublin now the Technological University Dublin (TUD).
Martin has been a Guest Lecturer for the MA in Criminology at DIT Grangegorman, Dublin (2018).