Road Traffic Offences

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 March 2012

Wednesday, 7 March 2012

Ceisteanna (182)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

186 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality, further to Parliamentary Question No. 505 of 24 January 2012, the reasons statistics are not maintained under section 63 of the Road Traffic Act on drivers who turn up to court without their driving licence and a copy of their driving licence which is now required under law in view of the fact that the law states that the court shall record whether or not the licence or permit and the copy of the licence or permit have been produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13045/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter)

The primary purpose of section 63 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 is to ensure that the driving licence number of individual offenders is recorded to enable the application of appropriate penalty points to the licence on conviction by the court. I am informed that the Courts Service are making arrangements to have the wording on the summonses amended to inform those summoned to court that they must bring not only their driving licence but a copy of the licence to court to facilitate the recording of the driving licence number. In addition, the Service is in the process of introducing new procedures which will enhance its ability to record not only the driving licence number but also to record, as a matter of record, whether the licence is produced or not.

The Courts Service computer system does not support the maintenance of statistical data in relation to whether or not a driving licence is produced. However, with the introduction of enhanced levels of licence recording it should be possible in the future to provide this data.