Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I thought the Deputy said that.

I do not underestimate the pressure which people who are the victims of tiger kidnappings find themselves under. It is very easy for us to be critical of them in those circumstances and easy to demand that they adhere to the protocols. Obviously, in circumstances where they are under extreme duress, they have to think of themselves and their loved ones first. However, these protocols are there to protect them and where they have been implemented, they have worked in recent times. The greatest advantage the criminals have is fear. I want to assure the House and the employees of financial institutions that the Garda Síochána's absolute priority when faced with an incident of this kind is to ensure that no harm comes to the victims.

Let me be clear. It is in the interests of all, in particular the staff of the financial institutions, that they follow the protocols which have been agreed. When we have a situation where the protocols are operated and these kidnaps are thwarted, it should help bring an end to the gangs attempting them. When people in banks find that one of their colleagues is in this situation, of course, at a human level, they want to do everything to help. However, the fact is that by operating the protocols they will help prevent these incidents happening and their own families or those of their colleagues being put at risk.

The Deputy may be aware that I intend to meet the chief executives of the various financial institutions tomorrow, a meeting that was scheduled before Tuesday's incident. I have asked the Garda Commissioner to attend as well. I will also meet representatives of banking employees in the coming week.

I do not doubt the commitment of the banks to the well-being of their staff, nor is their desire to help foil these crimes in question. However, I will be asking them what further measures are being put in place to ensure that only a limited amount of money is accessible to a single employee at any one time. I will once again be emphasising that the full implementation of the security arrangements for such incidents, on each and every occasion they arise, is vital to our efforts to make such raids a thing of the past.

In the face of such tactics, it is incumbent on the Government, the law enforcement agencies and the banking industry to work together to combat this threat. I have no interest in shirking my responsibility as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in facing up to these gangs. In addition to maintaining the high level of resources currently devoted to the fight against crime, I have enacted various Bills that will directly assist the Garda Síochána in its work in tackling such crimes. I cannot give details publicly of the activities being undertaken by the Garda in this regard, but I can assure the House that the force is sparing no effort in tackling gangs who carry out these deplorable acts.

The Garda Síochána is fully committed to combating this form of criminality as part of the concerted efforts being made to tackle organised criminal gangs. We are fortunate in having a highly professional police force with great experience of tackling organised criminal and subversive activity, and I am sure all Members will join with me in commending the efforts of the Garda Síochána in this respect.

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