asked the Minister for Justice the number of bank robberies which have taken place (a) in Dublin and (b) in the rest of the country during each of the past three years; the amount of money involved in each case; and in how many cases conviction of those responsible was secured.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bank Robberies.
19.
I am giving the information sought by the Deputy in a tabular statement and, with your permission a Cheann Comhairle, the statement will be included in the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
PARTICULARS of bank robberies in the past three years.
(A) In Dublin
|
Year |
Number |
Amount reported taken |
|
£ |
||
|
1967 |
1 |
3,265 |
|
1968 |
2 |
(i) 3,343 |
|
(ii) 3,186 |
||
|
1969 |
3 |
(i) 5,468 |
|
(ii) 4,400 |
||
|
(iii)3,000 |
||
|
(B) In the rest of the country |
||
|
1967 |
Nil |
— |
|
1968 |
1 |
3,474 |
|
1969 |
2 |
(i)800 |
|
(ii) 6,290 |
Proceedings have been taken but are not yet completed in three cases. No proceedings have been taken so far in the remaining six.
20.
asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí engaged in the protection of banks (a) in Dublin and (b) in the rest of the country; what equipment they are issued with both in order to apprehend persons attempting to rob banks and to protect themselves against armed attack in such cases; whether any onus is placed on the banks themselves to take suitable precautions, and if he will give details.
21.
asked the Minister for Justice the total number of gardaí currently providing security services for commercial banks in the State; and if such banks pay any fee for service to the State for such protection.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together. As I have previously explained to the House, I regret that I cannot agree to supply information about security arrangements. There is, of course, an onus on banks and indeed on all firms to take reasonable precautions themselves and these precautions must be all the greater in places of special risk. Banks do, in fact, take special precautions. On the other hand, we have to recognise that there is a limit to what they can do by way of precaution against certain types of criminal. Fees are not charged to banks for Garda services.
Would the Minister not agree that responsibility for bank deposits should more and more be the responsibility of the banks themselves rather than the Minister's Department? Would he not agree that the banks should, in the main, be shouldering the responsibility for safeguarding their deposits, thereby releasing a large number of gardaí who are obliged to do constant duty in this regard with inadequate equipment in the event of their being assaulted by armed robbers?
I would agree that the primary responsibility for security arrangements in places like banks, where money is kept lies with the bank authorities. On the other hand, the Deputy will appreciate there are certain circumstances in which large organisations and most unusual risks may be involved and in those cases it is very necessary that the gardaí would also take a hand in the matter.
Question No. 22.
I have not seen the tabular statement but a very great number of gardaí are engaged virtually full-time on such duty as guarding banks to the exclusion of the many other potential areas of crime in this country. In those circumstances does the Minister not agree that the rationalisation of work leaves a lot to be desired?
I do not think I gave the Deputy any figures.
Is it not a fact that today there is a garda outside every single bank in Dublin?
I am not going to comment on where they are.
Question No. 22.
May I ask the Minister if he accepts there is a fairly reasonable case to be made that the commercial banks should, in respect of the tremendously heavy protection given by gardaí to their premises during working hours, be asked to pay some proportion direct to the Department or to the State of the cost incurred by the State in that regard? Every bank does not ring up the Department and get a garda—we now see one stationed in front of every bank—just on an ad hoc basis.
I think the Deputy is trying to protect the bank robbers.
I will repeat what I said. I said normally it is the banks' business but there are certain circumstances where there are extra special risks and for which banks could not be expected to provide. I do not want to go into that matter further.
Question No. 22.
Some of them say they are guarding money deposited for arms for the north.
Will Deputy Treacy please resume his seat and allow questions to continue? I am calling question No. 22.