Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress, if any, that has been made with the Northern Ireland and UK authorities regarding the problems of speeding and other activities in which penalty points should be applicable either north or south of the Border in order to minimise the risks of accident and death, especially along motorways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38193/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Officials from my Department are continuing to work with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland towards the longer term objective of introducing mutual recognition of penalty points for driving offences.

Unlike the bilateral arrangements between the UK and Ireland, under Article 15.4 of the 1998 EU Convention on driving disqualifications, which came into operation in January 2010, there is no agreed international framework dealing with the recognition of penalty points for driving offences. Accordingly, a significant volume of work will be required, including the provision of an appropriate framework of law and international agreement.

It is intended that, initially, mutual recognition will be applied to a four penalty points offences; namely, drink driving, speeding, use of a mobile phone while driving and non-use of a safety belt.

I have met with my counterpart Mr Alex Atwood MLA, Minister of the Environment on the Northern Ireland Executive to discuss this matter, and it was also discussed at the most recent North South Ministerial Council.