Written answers

Tuesday, 7 October 2014

Department of Justice and Equality

Penalty Points System

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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264. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the action she has taken following new allegations regarding the continued abuse of the penalty points system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36806/14]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The matter referred to by the Deputy was brought to the attention of the Acting Garda Commissioner by way of a disclosure under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 alleging ongoing Garda misconduct in the cancellation of Fixed Charge Notices. The Acting Commissioner referred the matter to me with a request that I consider referring the allegations to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) for independent investigation. The Commissioner, in addition to referring the matter to me, ordered an internal examination be conducted by both the Garda Professional Standards Unit (GPSU) and the Garda Internal Audit Unit.

Clearly, any infringement of policies and procedures by any member of An Garda Síochána would be a very serious matter. Conscious of the need for continued public confidence in the integrity of the fixed charge notice system, and of the desirability of an independent investigation of the allegations in the public interest, I referred the allegations to GSOC, under section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, for independent investigation.

What is important now is that the actual facts of the situation are established before any conclusions are reached. The actions being taken by the Acting Garda Commissioner and the separate independent inquiry by GSOC should achieve exactly that. I have already indicated that the findings of these examinations will be made public.

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