Vol. 415 No. 3
30 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice if he has had discussions with the chairman and board of AIB and the other main banking groups including the Central Bank, about the level of security at the various holding centres, following the £2.75 million robbery at the AIB in Waterford.
32 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline the progress that has been made by the Garda authorities in their investigations into the armed raid on the AIB cash depot in County Waterford on 6 January, 1992; if he will give details of the total amount stolen; if, in the light of this robbery, the Garda authorities have had any discussions with the banks regarding a review of security procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
59 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to recent reports which stated that Garda surveillance at the AIB cash holding centre in Waterford city had been stepped up earlier last year after the discovery by the Garda forces of an elaborate plot to raid this bank, and that this surveillance was allowed to lapse a few weeks after the incident; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 32 and 59 together.
The security arrangements in operation at cash holding centres are the subject of constant review by the banks in consultation with the Garda Síochána. However, following the Waterford robbery, in which £2.75 million approximately was taken, I asked the Garda authorities to ensure that a further review of these arrangements was carried out as a matter of urgency. As a result, a special meeting was held of representatives of the main banking groups, the Central Bank and the Garda authorities at which the levels of security, including the security of buildings, were discussed. The Garda authorities will continue to discuss with the bank what further action might be taken.
As regards Deputy McCartan's question concerning the Garda investigation of the crime, the position is that it has never been the practice for Ministers for Justice to report to the House on the progress of specific Garda investigations and I do not intend to depart from that practice. All I will say is that the investigation is continuing.
