Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 1

Written Answers. - Cash Transfers.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

58 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself that the existing procedures regarding large cash transfers by road undertaken by financial institutions are sufficient to ensure the safety of the personnel involved and the safe transfer of the consignments; if the relevant procedures have been followed in all cases in the past six months; the number of these cases wherein procedures were not followed; the actions, if any, taken as a consequence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7188/99]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

188 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if existing security measures relating to large scale cash transfers are sufficient to meet requirements; if there have been any recent incidents which reflected any inadequacies in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7413/99]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 188 together.

The Garda authorities are well aware of the need to have arrangements in place designed to prevent large sums of money failing into the hands of criminals. The security arrangements to be made in such instances are matters to be determined by the Garda authorities on the basis of their professional judgment, deploying to maximum effect the resources at their disposal.

The Deputy will appreciate that, for obvious reasons, there are limits to the level of detail concerning such arrangements on which I can comment publicly.

The current security arrangements to protect cash-in-transit include a Garda monitoring plan which takes into account the movement of all cash-in-transit vehicles so as to afford the maximum coverage possible to each such movement and with a view to ensuring a swift and appropriate response in the event of an actual raid occurring. These arrangements, which are consistently followed, have been in place for some time and, while it would not be possible for the Garda authorities to guarantee that each and every attempted armed robbery can be successfully prevented, have generally proved to be effective nationwide.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that these cash escort policies are kept under constant review and, in line with standard practice, there is a further review of existing arrangements ongoing following the robbery on 4 January of a security van in Dalkey, County Dublin. The Dalkey raid is still under Garda investigation, and while a preliminary review has taken place, it will not be finalised until after the investigation is completed.

The fact that lives were threatened by the criminals who carried out the robbery in Dalkey was a particular source of concern and underlined the importance for the Garda of taking on board any lessons to be learned from the incident in determining its future crime fighting strategies. The Garda Commissioner has established a working group, comprising senior Garda officers and representatives from financial institutions and security companies, to comprehensively review current cash escort arrangements, which is expected to report its findings shortly.