Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My colleagues and I have called for a public inquiry into allegations of malpractice in the administration of the penalty points system.

Some people are very concerned about problems in the system in terms of what it is lawful to terminate and what is not. What is required is a review of the system surrounding the discretion the gardaí use and the policy and processes within the Garda to oversee the exercise of that discretion. We must examine what is and is not lawful to terminate, what criteria are used, if any, what process is used, whether reasons are set out, if there is a paper trail, what monitoring and oversight provisions exist and what review or appeal mechanism exists to ensure that this discretion is exercised fairly. It is alleged that there have been almost 100,000 terminations in the last five years. Only a public inquiry by a specially appointed independent individual can respond to these allegations and the serious concerns raised, in order to restore public confidence in the force.

See this speech in context