Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
662. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drivers summoned to court to date for the offence of accessing data on a mobile telephone while driving or texting while driving; the number of drivers convicted of this offence in this period; if she will provide a breakdown of the nature of the penalties imposed on drivers who were convicted of the offence. [34294/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service and I have no role in the matter. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in the performance of its functions, which includes the provision of information on the courts system.
The Road Traffic Act 2006 (Restriction on use of Mobile Phones) Regulations 2014, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, came into effect on 1 May 2014. The Courts Service has indicated that it is currently not in a position to report on convictions for the offences created under the Regulations, however, in view of the fact that the Regulations only came into effect on 1 May 2014 it considers that it is unlikely that any prosecutions have yet come for hearing before the courts.
