Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 December 2009
47 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport if he has engaged in consultations with An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service on the proposed changes to the fixed charge penalty processing system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45943/09]
View answerConsultations with all interested parties, including An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service took place during the drafting of the Road Traffic Bill, 2009.
I published the Road Traffic Bill, 2009 on 30 October 2009. It contains proposed changes aimed at improving the fixed charge processing system.
48 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport the expected timetable for the introduction of mutual recognition of penalty points here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45982/09]
View answer70 Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the recent conclusion of the agreement with the United Kingdom on the mutual recognition of disqualified drivers; the way in which the new mechanism will work; when it will come into force; the position regarding the development of a system of the mutual recognition of penalty points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45876/09]
View answer75 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the action he will take to address the abuse of the penalty points system by those not holding an Irish or UK driving licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45810/09]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 70 and 75 together.
The Road Traffic Bill 2009 which I published on 30 October 2009 amends driving licence provisions, to ensure that penalty points and disqualifications can be applied to non-national driving licences, and to give the Gardai powers to seize a licence where the driver has been disqualified or where the licence has been fraudulently obtained or is forged or altered.
Ireland and the United Kingdom co-ordinated the making of their respective Declarations to the EU Council on 30th October 2009 for the purposes of implementing the European Union Convention on Driving Disqualifications (1998).
This means that, with effect from 28 January 2010, disqualifications imposed on Irish drivers in the UK for certain road traffic offences will be notified to the RSA, who will notify the relevant licensing authority who may apply to the Courts to have the disqualification recognised.
The bilateral arrangements will similarly provide for the RSA to notify the UK authorities of disqualifications imposed on UK drivers by an Irish Court.
The mutual recognition of penalty points is a longer term project. As separate penalty point systems operate in each of the three jurisdictions, this is a much more complex legal and administrative issue than the mutual recognition of driver disqualifications, and will require the passage of primary legislation in both jurisdictions in due course.
