Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

These so-called "tiger" kidnappings are a particularly despicable crime. The abduction and false imprisonment of a person's family or friends to coerce him or her into assisting with a robbery is a particularly pernicious type of crime. I feel nothing but contempt for those responsible and I know this feeling is shared by Members of the House and the wider public. As the most recent incident is the subject of an active and ongoing Garda investigation and an individual has been brought before the court in connection with it, we are all constrained in what we can say.

There are agreed response procedures in place for dealing with such incidents. Regular meetings are held between the Garda Síochána and financial institutions to discuss bank security issues and in particular tiger kidnapping prevention and response protocols. While the Garda Síochána does not as a matter of policy and security disclose the protocols, they typically include the establishment of crisis management teams and protocols designed primarily to ensure the safe return of those persons held captive during such incidents and thereafter to secure the arrests and prosecution of the culprits involved. Advice on personal security for staff members and on systems and processes in place for the conveyance, storage and dispersal of cash is provided on an ongoing basis and is subject of regular review.

It is incumbent upon the banks and financial institutions to do everything possible to counter these robberies. This means the protocols must be followed and systems put in place to ensure that, for example, it is not possible for employees who have been placed under terrible duress to be in a position to access large amounts of cash. I do not blame employees who are acting under such duress. Their safety and that of their families and friends is paramount. This is also the Garda priority and the safety of people can best be assured by involving the Garda as quickly as possible when these incidents take place. When the protocols are followed the Garda is given a great advantage in its efforts to foil these crimes and arrest those responsible. This has been proven to be the case time and again. It is only by rendering these robberies unsuccessful that we will stop them taking place and thereby protect innocent employees and their loved ones from being caught up in them in the future.

I assure the House that the Garda is totally focused in combating this form of criminality as part of the concerted efforts being made to tackle organised criminal gangs. New legislation has been put in place to provide for covert surveillance evidence to be used in court. I have also introduced legislation which specifically targets the organised criminal gangs responsible for these reprehensible crimes. While obviously I cannot go into detail about ongoing Garda investigations, I assure the House that the Garda has been taking action under the legislation and we will see the fruits of this as it builds up cases against the organised crime gangs, including those involved in tiger kidnappings.

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