Hostage taking - Banks should do more to protect staff

This week’s hostage-taking robbery at the National Irish Bank in Killester has prompted renewed Opposition criticism of Government policy on armed crime.

The Irish Bank Officials Association (IBOA) has demanded that extra protective measures be implemented by the Minister for Justice and the Garda Síochána to protect bank officials and their families against this kind of crime.

The IBOA has called for an urgent meeting between the minister, gardaí, and representatives of the industry to set up a joint working group to monitor developments in the general area of security within the