Vol. 421 No. 2
64 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to reports of comments made by a Circuit Court Judge (details supplied) that if motorists are travelling within the speed limit the are causing a hazard to everyone else; if he will outline the implications this has for the enforcement of driving speed laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The judge in question subsequently stated that he had been misquoted and that his remarks had been taken out of context. He made it clear that he was not, in any way, condoning or excusing breaches of the speed laws. I have nothing further to add except to say that it is not open to me to comment on the particular case — it has long been recognised that it would be inconsistent with the concept of judicial independence for Ministers to comment on particular cases coming before the courts.
