asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that parking fines have been imposed on doctors throughout Dublin city while attending patients; and that the situation has arisen since the advent of traffic wardens; and if he will arrange that some circumspection will be shown in the future by these officials.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Parking Fines.
17.
The wardens in Dublin are employed by the Dublin Corporation and representations as to the manner in which they discharge their duties are a matter for consideration by the corporation.
Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that he has no jurisdiction whatever over these traffic wardens?
No; they are employed by the corporation and we let the corporation look after them.
Therefore, as they are, in the final analysis, State employees, to whom does one apply when one wants to make representations such as I am endeavouring to make now?
To Dublin Corporation, the City Manager.
Dublin Corporation no longer exists. As I am not personally within the jurisdiction of Dublin Corporation and would not be a member of Dublin Corporation, even if it did exist, to whom do I make representations if I cannot make them to the Minister for Justice? In other words, are the traffic wardens, a newly created force, purely a statutory body associated with Dublin Corporation over whom nobody has any jurisdiction whatsoever?
The day-to-day directions to them are given by the officials of Dublin Corporation, which is in existence.
I understand that all the Dublin Corporation officials, other than the medical officials, who are under the health authority, have parking facilities made freely available to them, whereas the medical officers have no such parking facilities.
We cannot discuss the administration of the Dublin Corporation.
I want to know this. If a medical officer is parking his car and a traffic warden summons him and the district justice fines him, to whom does he apply for redress on behalf of himself and his patients?
He should appear in the district court and explain the position to the district justice.
Is the Minister aware that several doctors have appeared in the district court and have been fined on the representations of traffic wardens? Is there nothing the Minister can do? Are the Dublin public not allowed to get medical service without being interfered with by traffic wardens?
Traffic wardens do not come under my Department. They are employed by the Dublin Corporation. The Garda have an arrangement with the IMA and the Medical Union, which the Garda honour, whereby they "take note of", to use the expression employed at the time, some approved badge which doctors, while on urgent calls, display on their windscreens. I am informed—although I want to stress that I have no responsibility in this matter—that Dublin Corporation have not, in fact, agreed to operate any such scheme.
Dublin Corporation do not co-operate about anything. May I ask——
I am calling Question No. 18. The Deputy has been allowed four supplementaries.
I put this question down to the Minister for Local Government. It was transferred to the Minister for Justice and apparently he has no function in the matter.
The Minister for Local Government has not either.
Have I no rights here at all?
The Deputy should go and see the corporation.
Is the Minister seriously suggesting that, if a doctor is fined for parking his car in order to see a patient, he should appear in court to explain his case to the district justice? Is the Minister aware of the responsibility——
Any citizen who feels he has a defence to any charge brought against him can, should and does appear in court.
(Interruptions)