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Garda Reports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 December 2013

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Questions (79)

Mick Wallace

Question:

79. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress of the separate investigation recommended at page 50 of the Garda professional services unit report regarding the widespread non-use of the mandatory comment box by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52664/13]

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Written answers

The report of April 2013 from the Professional Standards Unit in the Garda Síochána looked at the processes and systems which are in place concerning the cancellation of fixed charge processing notices. The report complements the report prepared by Assistant Commissioner John O'Mahoney of his examination into the allegations of irregularities in the operation of the Fixed Charge Processing System. These two reports recommended a number of changes aimed at ensuring that tighter administrative procedures are correctly followed throughout the Force in relation to the cancellation of fixed charge notices. The report from the Professional Standards Unit did not, however, include a specific recommendation for any separate investigation of the type referred to in the Deputy's question.

As I have previously advised, the two reports were published on my Department's website on 15 May 2013. In publishing the reports, I welcomed their recommendations for enhanced safeguards to ensure integrity in the Fixed Charge Processing System.  In addition, in order to provide even further public reassurance as to the effectiveness of these changes, and with the agreement of the Garda Commissioner, I asked the independent Garda Síochána Inspectorate to review the recommendations, to make any necessary supplementary recommendations, and to then review their implementation after 18 months.  The Inspectorate is making progress with this work and I expect to receive their report shortly. The Inspectorate's assessment of the recommendations contained in the two reports, and any further recommendations in this area which the Inspectorate feels are warranted, will be put in the public domain via the Inspectorate's website.

A revised Fixed Charge Processing User Manual and Procedures must await the report of the Garda Inspectorate as it will be necessary to take account of any recommendations from that source. In the meantime the Garda Commissioner issued a directive on 30 August 2013 with revised cancellation procedures in relation to Fixed Charge Notices to all members of the Garda Síochána. This directive instructed that the cancellation functionality was to be centralised to the Fixed Charge Processing Office in Thurles. Accordingly all cancellations are now executed using the Fixed Charge Processing Office computer system and as a result the comment box on Pulse is no longer used when cancelling notices. I also provided the two reports to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality for their consideration and for advice on any further recommendations or procedural or legislative changes which are desirable in this area. I have also consulted with my colleague the Minster for Transport in this matter.

I am absolutely committed, as is the Commissioner, to the introduction of whatever improvements are necessary to ensure continuing public confidence in the fairness and integrity of the implementation of road traffic laws by the Garda Síochána.

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