An attempted armed robbery in Dublin city centre this morning is a further sign that Dublin is in the grip of a crime wave, Fine Gael has said.
Justice spokesman Jim O'Keeffe said the failed robbery of a security van at the Ilac Centre shows "nowhere in Dublin is safe from hardened criminals".
Gardaí are hunting for two men after they held up security van staff who were delivering cash to an ATM.
Two shots were reportedly fired on Liffey Street West before the men, who were wearing balaclavas, fled empty-handed and escaped in a silver Nissan Almera car.
There were no injuries and the security van was taken to Store Street Garda Station for a technical examination.
Mr O'Keeffe said: "Dublin is in the grip of a crime epidemic. The city is awash with guns, from AK47s to sawn-off shotguns. Almost every consignment of cocaine that arrives on these shores is accompanied by more lethal weapons, while firearms offences increased significantly last year."
He commended the Garda for their efforts to combat serious crime but said Minister for Justice Michael McDowell had failed to give them adequate support in terms of manpower and equipment such as bullet proof vests and adequate communications devices.
"This Government said it would be judged on whether or not people feel safe. How can anyone feel safe in our capital city when criminals decide to carry out armed raids on cash deliveries in broad daylight on one on Ireland's busiest shopping streets?"