Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 May 2013
37. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he will publish the report in to allegations that a large number of penalty points were removed by senior gardaí without an adequate explanation. [20848/13]
View answer42. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the progress and conduct of the Garda Assistant Commissioner's report into allegations of the cancellation of fixed charge penalty notices, with particular reference to the delays in bringing the matter before Dáil Éireann. [20715/13]
View answer44. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reasons he chose to order an internal review of the allegations concerning the cancellation of fixed charge notices rather than one of the three options available to him (details supplied) under the Garda Act 2005, as amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20825/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 42 and 44 together.
The allegations relating to the cancellation by members of the Garda Síochána of fixed charge notices were forwarded to the Garda Commissioner in October 2012. The Garda Commissioner appointed an Assistant Commissioner to conduct an examination and to report on the allegations. I received an interim report from the Commissioner in November 2012 and the final report on 28 March 2013. Legal consideration has had to be given to certain privacy issues, but I will now be bringing the report to Government and I will then be in a position to make public its findings.
I believe that it was right for me to refer this matter to the Garda Commissioner for a fact-finding investigation, rather than establishing any other type of inquiry, and I would ask Deputies to withhold judgement, on this point or more generally, until they have all of the facts.
