Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not have any information in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy. With regard to the contact of the public with the Garda Síochána, road traffic matters are where most people come into direct contact with the enforcement of the law. The first critical issue is that the law is applied fairly and evenly to everybody. Second, as we have discussed here on a number of occasions, there is a discretion - a judgment and a common sense approach - which gardaí are expected to take and which, by and large, they do take in how they apply the law. It is appropriate that continues, including in the context of the fixed penalty points regime. It is also important that there is general confidence that the law is being enforced in an even-handed way and that there is not any special treatment for some people as against others. This is a very important principle that needs to apply. Third, as has been aired in this House over the course of the past number of days, there are also issues of privacy that arise in this case and not just privacy with regard to any contact or reports that the Garda Síochána gives to Ministers or whatever, but also privacy with regard to some reports that appear in the public domain from time to time and one can only wonder where they have been sourced. It it important to bear those principles in mind and to ensure there is public confidence in the application of the law, particularly in this area of road traffic offences which is the main area where most people encounter the enforcement of the law and have direct contact with members of the Garda Síochána.

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