Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 5

Written Answers. - Waterford Bank Robbery.

Pat Lee

Question:

67 Dr. Lee asked the Minister for Justice the cost to his Department to date of the investigation of the recent bank robbery at AIB banks in Lisduggan, Waterford on 7 January 1992; if it was necessary to have gardaí on overtime duty; and if so, the cost of this overtime duty.

Pat Lee

Question:

173 Dr. Lee asked the Minister for Justice the cost to his Department of the overtime for the investigation of the AIB bank robbery in Lisduggan, County Waterford on 7 January 1992.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Flynn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 173 together.

Records are not maintained in a way which would enable the Minister for Justice to say exactly how much the investigation of a particular criminal offence was costing. All gardaí have a role to play in the investigation of major crimes of this kind and remain alert to the possibility that information coming into their possession in the course of their routine duties may be relevant to the investigation. The Deputy will appreciate that would be quite impossible to trace and account for the contribution made by each and every member of the force in cases like this. Two things can be said however — firstly that the additional cost of investigating major crimes of this nature is quite considerable and, secondly, that no effort has been or will be spared in this instance to bring the perpetrators to justice.