Vol. 524 No. 4
129 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the total number of drivers from Northern Ireland who have been prosecuted for the offence of speeding; the total number who have paid on the spot fines for this offence; if he will set out the procedure that is followed in pursuing persons for offences of this nature who are living outside the jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22742/00]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that as a general rule drivers from Northern Ireland are issued fines on the spot notices for speeding offences. Details of the number of tickets issued as well as the number of Northern Ireland drivers who are prosecuted are not readily available and it would require a considerable amount of Garda time to compile such information.
I should emphasise that the question of whether or not there should be a prosecution in a particular case is a matter for the Gardaí and, where appropriate, the Director of Public Prosecutions and my Department has no statutory role in the matter. Also, the decision as to whether or not a fine on the spot is issued in a particular case is a Garda operational matter and I have no statutory function in the matter.
In general, since fines on the spot for speeding were introduced in December 1996 there has been a very high voluntary payment rate without the need for court proceedings. Details in relation to the issue of fines on the spot for speeding by Garda region are available in the annual report of An Garda Síochána and copies of the 1999 report were recently circulated to all Deputies.
However, the question of pursuing fine defaulters from Northern Ireland is being addressed by my Department in consultation with the Garda authorities and the Department of the Environment and Local Government.
