Vol. 249 No. 5
asked the Minister for Justice if it is the intention of his Department to resume the availability of members of the Garda Síochána for the provision of direct security services for commercial banks; and if there have been any discussions with banking interests on this matter.
57.
asked the Minister for Justice what steps have been taken to ensure the safety of bank officials and customers on the reopening of the banks in view of the number of bank raids just prior to the strike.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 57 together. The extent of any protection to be provided for the banks by the gardaí is a matter for determination by the Commissioner, Garda Síochána, from time to time in the light of all the circumstances. Details of protection, whether of persons or of premises, must in the interests of security be treated as confidential. Likewise any discussions that might take place with banking interests on security matters would be confidential.
The Minister's reply is most unsatisfactory. Would not the Minister agree that it is rather wasteful and not in the public interest that there should be a quasi-permanent Garda security force allocated to duty outside commercial banks? Would he inform the House, as we are entitled to know, if there is an obligation devolving on the commercial banks to train, employ and pay their own internal security force in the interests of the protection of State and public property?
There is no obligation on commercial banks to do what the Deputy suggests. Of course, commercial banks are free to take whatever steps, within the the law, that they consider to be necessary for their own protection.
In view of the large amount of money which is spent on the training of gardaí for the work they are employed to do — money which none of us resents being spent in this way— may I suggest to the Minister that he ask the Garda Commissioner to consult with the commercial banks and ask them if they would now extend and develop more effectively their own internal security arrangements rather than depend perpetually on garda protection? Some of this protection is necessary but it is not necessary to the extent that it is being handed over to the State.
The commissioner has had discussions with the commercial bank interests in relation to this matter but I do not suppose it would be in the public interest to disclose the nature or the outcome of these discussions.
Does the Minister intend communicating his observations to the Garda Representative Body? The Minister will appreciate that they have an interest in this.
I will discuss the matter with the commissioner.
Only with the commissioner?
58.
asked the Minister for Justice the number of bank raids over the past year; whether there has been any increase in the number of such raids over the previous year; and whether any convictions have followed.
The number of bank robberies in the present calendar year has been two as compared with five such robberies and one attempted robbery in the calendar year 1969.
There has, so far, been no conviction but charges have been brought in respect of one of the robberies in 1969 and also in respect of the attempted robbery. In addition, a request has been made for the extradition from England of a person in connection with the murder of a member of the Garda Síochána at the scene of one of the 1970 robberies and also in connection with the other robbery this year. This request is at present being contested before the courts in England.
