Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

However, Members should not forget that the banks and other institutions have their part to play in this regard. If tried and trusted protocols are put in place to defeat criminal attempts to rob cash, it is imperative that these are followed to the letter. That is the important lesson from last Friday. I echo the words of the chief executive officer of Bank of Ireland that the objective of the protocols is to provide for the "safety and well-being of all staff". I have stated repeatedly that my primary priority is to focus on the fight against crime. That remains the case. By the end of this year, there will be just short of 15,000 gardaí on the streets, the same number which Deputy Flanagan's party pledged to have in place by the end of 2012, a full three years later.

Regarding the events of last Friday, I do not underestimate the difficulties involved in trying to deal with incidents where people are taken hostage. For those involved, their instinct is understandably to protect their loved ones. However, this only makes it more important that financial institutions follow the robust protocols and procedures in place to ensure employees are, to the greatest possible extent, not placed in such a position in the first place.

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