Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the discussions he has had with the financial institutions to prevent so-called tiger robberies; if new security measures have been agreed to ensure the safety of staff and the security of money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14249/09]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the stage of the garda investigation into the robbery of €7.6 million from a bank (details supplied) on 27 February 2009 in a so-called tiger robbery; the amount of the money recovered to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14248/09]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 474: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will support a matter (details supplied). [15725/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 133 and 474 together.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the incident to which the Deputies refer remains the subject of an active and ongoing investigation.

Shortly after the incident a number of persons were arrested. Charges have been preferred against two of those arrested, and these individuals are currently before the Courts. A sum of money relating to these charges was also recovered, but, in the circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to go into any further details about the matter. The investigation is continuing with a number of lines of enquiry being pursued by the Investigation Team and an Investigation File is being prepared which will be submitted to the DPP in due course.

As I stated in the immediate aftermath of this robbery, I spoke to the Chief Executive of the institution and expressed my concern that such a large sum of money could be removed from the bank in this manner. Several meetings have also taken place between An Garda Síochána and representatives from the financial institutions to discuss issues relating to their security arrangements, including the issue of so-called 'tiger' kidnappings. There are agreed response procedures, which are detailed and all-encompassing, between An Garda Síochána and the financial institutions to deal with situations where members of staff or their families are taken hostage in order to facilitate robberies of such institutions. An Garda Síochána does not, for obvious security reasons, disclose information relating to such procedures and protocols.

I know that the members of this House will agree with me when I say that it is vitally important that financial institutions follow the robust procedures and protocols that are in place to prevent robberies. These are there, first and foremost, to protect employees. It is important to recognise that it is only by rendering so-called 'tiger' kidnappings unsuccessful that we will stop them happening, and thereby protect innocent employees from being caught up in them in the future.