Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

Does the Minister agree that the net issue is the ease with which criminals can access cash, whether by way of tiger kidnappings, ATM cash robberies or cash in transit heists? As this money is insured in any event, protocols agreed can be cast aside with some ease. I ask the Minister to ensure that efforts are made to reduce the circumstances under which large volumes of cash are carried. We must look to international best practice whereby the issues of carriage of cash in vans, the ease with which cash can be removed from ATMs and tiger kidnappings have by and large been dealt with successfully by a co-ordinated effort which is not under way here - at least there does not appear to be any evidence to suggest that.

The Minister mentioned that he hopes to meet representatives of the bank officials shortly. I ask him to impress on the bankers the need to ensure proper and adequate training. The level of training that appears to be available to bank officials and those handling cash does not give rise to confidence. Would the Minister agree that banks have a duty of care to their employees to ensure that every available training opportunity is employed? That training does not seem to be happening and verbal directions on protocols are wholly insufficient to deal with this most dangerous circumstance where life and limb are under threat. Unless the Minister takes an initiative in this regard through ensuring that all the modern technological advances are employed to deal with cash in transit and to ensure that there is proper and adequate staff training up to international best practice, unfortunately gangland criminal operators and organised crime bosses will continue to engage in the type of activity we have witnessed because of the ease with which cash can be taken.

See this speech in context