Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Consequently, the Government's record is of a reduction in such activities.

First, I wish to extend my sympathy to the victims caught up in this crime. I am sure I speak for all sides of the House when I express my hope that they will soon recover from this awful trauma. Members will also appreciate that it is incumbent upon me to remind the House that the robbery last Friday is the subject of an intensive and ongoing investigation. A number of individuals have appeared in court charged in connection with it and I suggest that all Members should be careful to avoid saying anything that could be prejudicial to the case.

There are agreed response procedures between the Garda Síochána and the banks and financial institutions to deal with hostage situations in which members of staff or their families are taken hostage to facilitate robberies. These response procedures are detailed and all-encompassing. It is clear that some of the aforementioned security protocols were not followed in this incident. A number of questions arise regarding the apparent ease with which such a large amount of money was accessed. I accept that everyone is worried about how easily this money was taken from this bank.

Shortly after the incident, I had a conversation with the chief executive of the bank involved. I also met the Garda Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner of operations in the immediate aftermath of the robbery. Following our consultations, it was agreed that senior gardaí should immediately meet the heads of security of a number of financial institutions to consider the implications of last Friday's robbery. That meeting took place yesterday and the institutions have undertaken to carry out a fundamental review of their procedures and to report back, while working with the Garda in this respect. Further meetings are envisaged.

It is no surprise that in the wake of ongoing improvements to the physical security of banks and to the cash in transit industry — Deputy Flanagan must admit the cash in transit issue has been taken care of reasonably successfully in recent years — these thugs have shifted their focus to the human vulnerability within the system. In general, the Garda Síochána will continue to combat such so-called tiger raids as part of the concerted efforts being made to tackle organised criminal gangs and the continuing measures being taken as part of Operation Anvil. In recent years we have introduced tough new measures, including seven-day detention periods, that have been used in the recent past highly successfully by the Garda Síochána with the consent of the courts, for those suspected of various serious crimes, including kidnappings and mandatory sentences in respect of firearms offences.

The Garda is continuing to make every effort to defeat the crime gangs responsible and I reiterate that I will not be found wanting in ensuring that it has the necessary support, both from a resources and legislative perspective, to so do. For example, I emphasise and have indicated in the House many times, the budget for Operation Anvil has been increased and ring-fenced from €20 million last year to €21 million this year. This is in spite of an overall reduction in my Department's Estimate.

In response to the claims made by the Deputy, while it would be completely counter-productive for me to comment on any detail of the surveillance activities of the Garda, I can confirm to him that the Garda Commissioner, at a follow-up meeting in this House today, assured me there is absolutely no basis for any suggestion that the resources devoted to the targeting and surveillance of such gangs have been reduced or withdrawn. Such claims are as baseless as they are irresponsible.

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