Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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1277. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the meeting of 13 March last of the criminal justice working group established to oversee and facilitate the implementation of the report of the An Garda Síochána Inspectorate entitled The Fixed Charge Processing System: A 21st Century Strategy; the future schedule of meetings of the group; and the actions that will be taken arising out of the group's work to date. [13960/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Criminal Justice Working Group, jointly chaired by the Department of Justice and Equality and my Department, met for the first time on 13th March 2014. At this first meeting, the background to the Courts Working Group and the Garda Inspectorate Report was discussed and a preliminary overview of the Garda Inspectorate recommendations was undertaken.

In respect of each of the recommendations contained in the Report, the Group will identify the body with principal responsibility for implementation and will determine a timescale and arrangements for implementation, having regard to the Action Plan published by the Minister for Justice and Equality.  Bodies with any supporting role will also be identified by the Group.

The Group will also consider and make recommendations with on other related issues it considers would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the fixed charge processing system, taking into account previous ongoing work, such as that carried out by the Penalty Points Working Group chaired by the Courts Service.

The Group will report formally to the Minister for Justice and Equality and me on a regular basis providing an update on progress, having particular regard to timeframes set down in the Action Plan.

The next meeting of the Group will take place on 25th March 2014 and I expect it will meet on a regular basis thereafter over the coming months to advance the substantial body of work which it has  been assigned.