Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 141: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if serving members of An Garda Síochána are working for or in receipt of fees from insurance companies arising from investigations into road traffic accidents; if this is authorised by senior management; and if it is legal and ethical. [12279/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that paragraph 6.2(3) of An Garda Síochána Code (Volume III) provides for a Garda member, who is summoned as a witness in civil proceedings, to request a viaticum from the party by whom summonsed. The viaticum is for the purpose of covering the member's anticipated necessary travelling and subsistence expenses as a result of attending court. Such civil proceedings would include insurance companies summonsing Garda members involved in the investigation of road traffic accidents where civil proceedings are instigated and result in court hearings.

Paragraph 24.5(5) of An Garda Síochána Code provides for the charging of fees to third parties, including insurance companies, when they request in writing an abstract of Garda reports, copies of witness statements, sketches/maps of scenes, etc. The fees charged are credited to the Garda Vote, through the relevant Garda District public bank accounts.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 142: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the agreements entered into between An Garda Síochána and individual insurance companies over the past ten years in respect of road traffic accidents and any other areas covered; the nature of such agreements; the terms and conditions; the names of the senior members of the Garda with responsibility for dealing with such agreements; and if he is kept informed of such developments. [12280/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between An Garda Síochána and AXA Ireland was signed by the Garda Commissioner and the Chief Executive of AXA Ireland on 22 April, 2005. The purpose of the MOU is to provide a framework to facilitate the implementation and operation of a partnership wherein An Garda Síochána and AXA Insurance Company come together with the objective of providing a safe, efficient and effective method of removing and storing all mechanically propelled vehicles which have been involved in road traffic collisions in public places.

I am further informed that a successful eight month pilot project was carried out in the South Eastern Region commencing on the 1 June, 2005 which resulted in an accrued saving of €10,000 to the Garda Vote. It is anticipated that a similar pilot under this MOU will be implemented in the DMR Region in the near future.