Dáil Éireann - Volume 453 - 23 May, 1995

Written Answers. - Ransom Payments Compensation.

Mr. O'Dea Mr. O'Dea

676

159. Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice the measures, if any, she proposes to take to outlaw the practice of insurance companies who compensate clients for losses incurred due to ransom payments, the payments to release a person who has been abducted; and the steps, if any, she intends to take to legally compel these insurance companies [676] to inform the Garda about all such payments. [9329/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen) Nora Owen

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen): It is the policy of the Government, as it was the policy of previous Governments, to oppose the payment of ransom in kidnapping cases. The question of banning insurance to cover ransom payments was considered previously but the difficulties identified then, not least of which was that such insurance was available on a wide scale from outside the jurisdiction, still remain.

As I indicated in the course of my contribution to the Adjournment Debate on 10 May, 1995, all kidnappings and attempted kidnappings should be reported to the Garda Síochána who have achieved a high success rate in relation to the prevention and detection of kidnappings over the years.

Dáil Éireann 453 Written Answers. Ransom Payments Compensation.

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