Vol. 531 No. 2
161 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if any protocol exists which allows for the mutual enforcement of traffic legislation and prosecution of offenders for breaches of this legislation on both sides of the Border with Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5239/01]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is no legislation in force in this jurisdiction which permits the prosecution of an offender in respect of a road traffic offence committed in Northern Ireland. All road traffic legislation is a matter for the Minister for the Environment and Local Government.
The provisions of the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act, 1976, which permits this type of prosecution in respect of certain specified offences, do not extend to road traffic offences. The Criminal Justice Act, 1994 – section 49 – contains provisions which permit the service of summonses outside the jurisdiction in respect of all offences committed within the jurisdiction, that is, summonses may be served on an individual resident in Northern Ireland for road traffic offences committed by that individual within this jurisdiction.
