Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the ongoing use of mobile phones by motorists in view of the fact that the Road Safety Authority states that using a mobile phone makes a driver four times more likely to crash their car; the number of drivers that have been caught by An Garda Síochána using their mobile phone while driving in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13749/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Garda Commissioner has responsibility for roads policing and works in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority and other relevant partner agencies and institutions in the development and implementation of the actions and initiatives as set out in the Road Safety Strategy. In that regard, I am assured An Garda Síochána continue to focus their enforcement activities on the main causes of death and serious injury on our roads.

Driving while holding a mobile phone is a Fixed Charge Penalty Offence and subject to ongoing enforcement by the Garda authorities. I am advised that that members of An Garda Síochána carry out regular monitoring to detect breaches across the whole range of road traffic and transport legislation, including holding a mobile phone while driving.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table sets out the total number of Fixed Charge Notices issued by An Garda Síochána in the period 2009 to 31 January, 2013 for the offence of holding a mobile phone while driving. It should be noted that the figures provided are provisional, operational and liable to change.