Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2012
129. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to review speed limits and to deal with information that has been brought to his attention in relation to road traffic penalties and fines being written off by Gardaí. [52248/12]
View answerEarlier this year, I announced that a review of speed limits would be undertaken and to that end, my Department established a stakeholder group to progress this work.
The Automobile Association, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, the National Roads Authority, the National Transport Authority and representatives of local authorities accepted my invitation to participate in the Working Group. The work of the Group is ongoing and I expect to receive their report by the end of the year.
I understand that a senior garda above a certain level may write off penalty points for legitimate reason and that a procedure exists to allow this. I have, however, been contacted by a possible whistle-blower with regard to allegations that this procedure may have been used inappropriately. My officials have met with person making these allegations at my request, as has the Road Safety Authority seperately. While they remain allegations, I do take them seriously. For this reason, I have referred them to the Minister for Justice.
