Road Traffic Offences.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2005

Thursday, 24 March 2005

Ceisteanna (46)

Jack Wall

Ceist:

39 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether measures contained in the Road Traffic Act 2004 have clarified all the areas in which prosecutions are sought with regard to speeding offences; his further views on whether no further loopholes will be exposed, such as the ruling that convictions sought on the basis of the use of a laser gun are not valid as it does not produce a written or other permanent record; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9699/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

The Road Traffic Bill 2004 was passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas between November and December last and enacted on 22 December 2004. A number of measures in this Act are provided to support the enforcement of a range of road traffic offences. When the text of the Act was being finalised, it was anticipated that the ruling referred to by the Deputy could emerge from the courts and section 15 of the Act has addressed the issue which was the subject of the ruling. Road traffic legislation is subjected to challenge from time to time and the interpretation of legislative provisions is ultimately a matter for the courts.