Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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441. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on an aspect of the Garda Inspectorate report (details supplied); the timeframe for implementation of this procedure; the possible barriers to this implementation which exist, such as use of personal public service numbers under the Data Protection Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23174/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, there are a number of measures in place in relation to the association of driving licence details with penalty points. The primary purpose of Section 63 of the Road Traffic Act, 2010 is to ensure that the driving licence number of individual offenders is recorded to enable the application of appropriate penalty points to the licence on conviction by the Court, and the Courts Service has put in place arrangements to record these details. As I have recently advised the Deputy, I understand that an arrangement has been put in place between An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service to facilitate the bringing of prosecutions for the non-production of a driving licence in these circumstances and that these prosecutions will commence in the very near future.

I can further advise the Deputy that my Department is in ongoing contact with the relevant agencies with a view to ensuring that the most efficient and effective processing and recording of data in respect of non-production of licences applies. As part of this process, the Criminal Justice (Fixed Charge Processing System) Working Group is studying other possible measures to assist with the association of driving licence details with penalty points. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I have recently received an update on the Group's ongoing examination of this issue, and have asked that further consideration be given to these matters with a view to more detailed analysis being submitted later this year.