asked the Minister for Justice if he will give details of the number of armed robberies at different centres throughout the country on Friday, 8th March, 1974; the number of persons arrested in each case; and the amount of money stolen and recovered.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Armed Robberies.
25.
The number reported to the Garda was three. The amounts of money stolen were £500, £3,000 and £39,000, none of which has been recovered and no person has yet been arrested. Garda investigations are continuing.
This again is symptomatic of the situation we find under a Government who set themselves up to be for law and order and so on.
A question, Deputy, please.
Can we have any hope of these individuals being apprehended and the money being recovered? Can we be told who the individuals were? Can the Minister give us any information in these respects?
I must reject the Deputy's supplementary question. His criticism of the Garda is most unfair.
I am not criticising the Garda. I am criticising the Minister. It is his responsibility.
These crimes took place on 8th March, 1974, and it is unreasonable to expect that detections and convictions could have been achieved by now.
I should like to put it on the record that at no time was I being critical of the Garda, as the Minister suggested. It is now 13 days since the commission of the crime——
Deputy Andrews must cease making statements.
It is both naïve and unfair of Deputy Andrews to suggest that any crime can be solved in a specific time.
(Interruptions.)
Does your decision, a Cheann Comhairle, refusing to allow a Private Notice Question mean that the matter cannot be raised in this House until next week?
It did not have the required urgency under Standing Orders.
I accept the Chair's ruling, but I must say——
Question No. 26.
Is the Ceann Comhairle aware that I have complained to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges——
The Deputy may not raise this matter in this fashion.
——and the committee are very sympathetic. This is all very wrong and unfair.
Question No. 26, to the Minister for Health.