Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied that recipients of penalty points who paid their on the spot fines are as fairly treated as those who appeal the fines associated therewith to the Courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27711/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Both the enforcement of the Road Traffic Acts and the operation of the Courts are a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The option to pay an applicable fixed charge for certain road traffic offences and to receive a reduced number of penalty points is available in lieu of going to court and the choice in each case is a matter for the individual. The hearing of a case before the court is not an appeal against a fixed charge payment.

Where a person chooses to have their case heard in court and is convicted then he or she is liable to whatever monetary fine the court may impose and the full number of penalty points that apply to that offence are entered against their driving licence record.