Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom gach dea-ghuí a thabhairt don Choimisinéir gníomach. Má éiríonn go maith leis is le leas na tíre a bheadh sé. De bharr sin guím gach rath air.

Like other members, I would like to acknowledge, notwithstanding the various issues we are discussing and that I will raise, the good work of An Garda Síochána. In particular, I have witnessed at first hand the impact in my community and in my own locality that good community policing has made. I am very much an advocate of this model and I am sure Assistant Commissioner Finn can attest to the good impact community policing has had in Cork. Notwithstanding that, I echo Deputy Brophy's comments. Many of these issues, some of which we have not touched on such as the financial issues in the Templemore training college, fixed charge penalty notices, and breath tests, are utterly unacceptable and are a poor reflection on the manner in which the organisation has conducted itself in recent years.

I will focus on the fixed charge penalty notice issue. Since 2006, 146,865 summonses have been issued incorrectly to people who subsequently paid a fine, 14,700 of whom were convicted in court and paid a second fine. I am aware a process has begun whereby the Garda is writing to all those affected explaining what happened and proposing how to reimburse fines and correct records. The letters state if they consent, An Garda Síochána will commence a process of appealing the fines on their behalf and so on.

What has been the take-up so far and what will be the cost of the process under way?