Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the number of recorded cases of 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 that the protocols agreed with the banks to deal with such situations are adequate having regard to the ongoing incidences of such robberies; 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. [43093/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As I have stated in the House on a number of occasions, 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.

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.

The Garda Síochána remain totally focused on 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 (14th November, 2010) five so-called 'tiger' kidnappings have taken place involving the staff or relations of staff of financial institutions and the following table shows the number of such incidents recorded between 2005 - 2009. It is the policy of An Garda Síochána not to disclose the amount of money taken during such crimes.