Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the number of recorded cases of so-called tiger robberies, in which staff or relations of staff of financial institutions were taken hostage in each year from 2005 to 2009 and to date in 2010; the amount of money taken in such robberies; if he is satisfied the protocols agreed with the banks to deal with such situations are adequate having regard to the ongoing incidences of such robberies; to explain the way in which he believes that increased ATM fees for the public would contribute to the reduction of such robberies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35360/10]

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the steps being taken to prevent family members of bank employees being taken hostage and bank employees being coerced into facilitating bank robberies; if he regards the existing protocols applicable to such circumstances and training afforded to bank employees as adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35221/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 31 together.

This is a despicable type of crime. The abduction and false imprisonment of a person's family or friends, in order to coerce them into assisting with a robbery is a particularly abhorrent type of crime. The trauma visited on the innocent victims involved by heartless criminals can only be imagined by the rest of us. I know my contempt for those responsible will be shared by members of this House and by the wider public.

It is the policy of An Garda Síochána not to disclose the amount of money taken during such crimes. There are agreed response procedures in place for dealing with such incidents. Regular meetings are held between An Garda Síochána and financial institutions to discuss bank security issues and in particular kidnap prevention and response protocols. Clearly it is incumbent upon the banks and financial institutions to do everything possible to prevent these robberies. That means that 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. When the protocols are followed the Gardaí are given a great advantage in their efforts to foil these crimes and arrest those responsible. That has been proven to be the case.

I want to assure the House that the Gardaí are 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. The Deputy will appreciate that bank charges and fees are not primarily a matter under my control as Minister for Justice and Law Reform. I have in any case made it clear that I am not proposing that additional costs should be imposed on the consumer. I am of the view that we should examine the current levels of cash in circulation within the economy. This is a matter that has been raised with me including by bank staff representatives.

To date in 2010 five so-called 'tiger' kidnappings have taken place and the following table shows the number of similar incidents recorded between 2005 - 2009.

*The total number of incidents in 2006 and 2007, namely 5, is the same as that I provided in reply to Question No. 172 of 30 June 2010. However, the Garda authorities advise that the figures in question fall to be revised to 4 and 1 respectively, not 2 and 3 which was in the earlier reply.