Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman. I welcome Assistant Commissioner Twomey and his colleagues. It is an interesting discussion because road safety and reducing collisions and fatalities on our roads should be a priority of all of us.

I want to touch on three areas, one of which a response has been given to the Deputies who raised it, namely, the criticism by the courts. My question is to Assistant Commissioner Twomey. Why are the cases dismissed or struck out not recorded by the office for safety camera management, OSCAM? Does the Garda keep a record of that? I accept it can be complicated for various reasons but if a record was kept of the number of cases being struck out it would be of interest this committee and to the general public.

With regard to the integrity of the process, I refer to a recent "Prime Time" programme which I am sure the Assistant Commissioner saw in which questions were raised regarding the standard and maintenance of equipment used. That can be used in court if challenged. What key performance indicators, KPIs, or system of oversight does the Garda use to ensure that the contractors, GoSafe, have adequate equipment? What are the reporting mechanisms to the Garda or to OSCAM? It would be essential for public confidence that the integrity of that system would be good.

The assistant commissioner explained how the Garda reviews the selection of enforcement zones and that it is closely monitoring that. He mentioned the Road Safety Authority and the National Roads Authority but is there an opportunity for the local authorities' road sections or even public representatives through the Garda liaison committees on local authorities to give local feedback on problems identified by locals or public representatives? I understand the Garda selects the enforcement zones and then directs the contractors but it is important from a public confidence point of view that there would be adequate opportunities in that regard. The assistant commissioner might address that point.

Public confidence in the system is vital. It is important that people support the system in operation but it would be remiss of me not to say that sometimes I hear criticism in that regard. People are caught speeding, and that is a fair point, but there is criticism of the system on occasion in that it is almost entrapment. I ask the assistant commissioner to respond to that from a public confidence point of view. If people are speeding, they are speeding. It is a black or white issue, but people sometimes say these vans are located on relatively straight roads where there does not appear to be a problem, whereas there could be a problem in other areas.

I want to give credit to the Garda for its use of social media. I use Twitter, and I notice that breath-testing and speed zones are regularly notified on social media by the Garda. That is a good exercise in terms of public awareness because it alerts people to the fact that the Garda is monitoring and checking, all of which is in the interests of road safety. I would encourage further use of that because it is working, and I commend the Garda for engaging in that platform.