Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

Members and the wider public will be aware of the emergence of a clear pattern. "Tiger" kidnappings are occurring on a more frequent basis and are becoming progressively more violent. A pattern is emerging whereby in the immediate aftermath of such an horrendous occurrence, the Minister has a meeting with either the Garda Commissioner or the chief executives of the financial institutions, or both. Besides having a couple of hastily convened and highly publicised meetings, what is happening to avert tiger kidnappings and cash in transit and ATM theft? What counter-surveillance personnel training have bank staff received to ensure a certain awareness on their part of how to deal with such a situation? The protocols and codes of practice that the Minister mentioned, not only with regard to tiger kidnapping but also to cash in transit, have not seen real improvement. It is reported that in cases these protocols have been agreed but are not implemented.

We need an entire change of emphasis. We do not use appropriate smart technology. We do not use smart boxes for cash in transit. What we use in this jurisdiction for the conveyance of cash has been abandoned as obsolete and outmoded in other jurisdictions. However, here the Minister speaks about protocols, none of which are in place.

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