Vol. 285 No. 13
asked the Minister for Justice when the road blocks and checkpoints were set up on a national scale after the kidnapping of Dr. Herrema; the time at which the order was given; and the time and numbers of road blocks that were set up in the counties of Limerick and Tipperary.
3.
asked the Minister for Justice if road blocks were set up and the full resources of the Garda Síochána made available after the discovery of the murder of the late Garda Reynolds.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
The compilation of statistics relating to the numbers of gardaí allocated for duty on road blocks and details of the times and the numbers of road blocks on particular operations would involve considerable work for the Garda. I do not consider that I would be justified in asking them to undertake the task.
Even if statistics of this kind were available, I would not be prepared to disclose them since they could be of assistance to persons engaged in criminal activity.
The answer to both parts of the second question is "Yes".
Is the Minister satisfied that road blocks in Tipperary were not set up until between 3.30 and 5 p.m. on the Saturday after the kidnapping and that this was due totally to the overtime situation; that men in charge of stations were told to use whatever manpower they had, that this meant in the case I have in mind only one man but that a garda is not allowed to man a checkpoint singly?
I am not aware that these allegations are correct. The Deputy asked a question seeking precisely the information he has given but I had presumed he asked the question because he did not have the information. I have indicated that the information is not available to me and that compilation of it would involve considerable work for the Garda and would not be justified.
Is the Minister satisfied that in this instance roadblocks were set up in time?
I am so satisfied.
Would the Minister consider the Saturday evening to have been time enough to set up roadblocks?
I am satisfied that the Garda have the expertise to set up roadblocks whenever necessary.
Would the Minister not agree that the overtime factor was an element in the delay in this instance?
That is a separate matter.
I am not conceding that there was a delay.
