Minister criticised over stance on 'tiger' raids

JIMMY WALSH

SEANAD REPORT: MINISTER FOR Justice Dermot Ahern was living in a fantasy world when he spoke of people being expected to adhere to protocols during bank robberies involving the taking of hostages, Jerry Buttimer (FG) contended.

A Fine Gael attempt to get an emergency debate on the increase in so-called “tiger” kidnap raids, was defeated on a vote. Mr Buttimer said that the trauma experienced by the Ronan family in Kilkenny could not be just glossed over. If Mr Ahern or any other Oireachtas member had a gun put to their heads and those of their children at 6.15am, they certainly would not follow protocols.

Frances Fitzgerald, Fine Gael leader in the House, wondered why the Minister, the Government, the Garda and the banks had not, together, put in place the sort of security measures that would protect these families and bank employees.

The media had a serious responsibility not to make life more difficult for the half-million unemployed by airing programmes that would really annoy them morning, noon and night, leaving their position much worse, Seanad leader Donie Cassidy declared. Media should use a quota of good news each day, he said.

Marc MacSharry (FF) said the search for a solution to the country’s problems was not helped by the way elements of the media were pitching the public and private sectors against one another.

Ann Ormonde (FF) said the media was creating so much doom and gloom that it was depressing “the world outside”.