Mr. Brendan Ryan:

If the Deputy has no objection, I will explain how the system operates. Fixed charge penalty points apply to a range of motoring offences. What happens in any case is that a fixed charge penalty notice is issued by the Garda national processing office in Thurles when a motoring offence has been detected by a garda or a speed or safety camera, either static or mobile. The notice is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle in the case of detection by a camera or the driver if the vehicle is stopped by a garda. When the initial 28 day period has elapsed, the registered owner or driver has a further 28 days in which to pay the fine and incur penalty points.

Once the fine is paid, the Garda electronically updates the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with the offence details. Once the 26-day period has elapsed, a fine cannot be paid. I will come back to the issue. The unpaid fine triggers an application to the courts for the issue of a summons.