Mr. Ciar?n Ferrie:

There is one issue we have not really touched on very much, which is who has responsibility for enforcing road traffic laws. We have a situation where local authorities throughout the country have very different approaches to this. Some of them have traffic wardens and some contract private organisations to carry this out.

There is a need to consider the scope of the offences they can enforce. There is also the role of An Garda Síochána in enforcing road traffic offences. The NTA has a role as regulator for the taxi industry and, to a certain extent, in respect of the detail and design of roads. This creates a real issue, certainly in Dublin, where there are four local authorities, An Garda Síochána and the NTA and there are offences that fall through the cracks. Dublin Street Parking Services is responsible for enforcing parking in Dublin city centre but it often says it cannot enforce a particular matter and one needs to get in touch with the Garda on it. Obviously, the Garda has to make decisions in respect of its resources and the issues on which it focuses, and it may consider the matter is not high on its list of priorities. A simplification of that system such that is a clear definition of responsibilities in terms of who enforces the law and how they do so is needed, as well as an increase in the resources to do that. I wanted to make sure that point was made at this meeting.