Minister defends penalty points scheme
Transport Minister Seamus Brennan today insisted a new penalty points system for speeding drivers would begin this week.
He dismissed claims that officers would not be able to implement the initiative from Thursday because they had not been adequately briefed.
“I have the assurances of assistant commissioners that everything is ready for Thursday,” said Mr Brennan.
However Michael Kirby, president of the Garda Representative Association, said rank and file officers who will be operating the system had not been briefed on how it will work.
Mr Kirby said he could not see how they would be able to implement the scheme on Thursday.
“My members can’t introduce something they know nothing about. They don’t know how it’s going to work when they have not been told.
“We have no idea what’s going to happen on Thursday.”
Mr Brennan said he appreciated the extra pressure the initiative put on gardai, but it was vital that the law was implemented.
Mr Brennan was due to hold a briefing later today to discuss details of the scheme, which brings Ireland broadly into line with the road regulations in most other European states.
It was scheduled to come into force more than five years ago but the plans of successive Dublin governments were repeatedly held up by legislative and red tape problems.
At first only speeding will qualify towards a ban, with motorists caught going over the limit six times in a three-year period facing a six--month disqualification.
Other driving penalties will fall within the points scheme next year.
