Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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18. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to report to Dáil Éireann on her priorities for road safety, including the status of the Judge Keane ruling on section 22 of the Road Traffic Act 2002 regarding the non-production of driving licences in court and the wording of the summons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10013/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland has over a number of years developed a multi-agency approach to road safety through the involvement of a number of agencies working in partnership, under the aegis of a Road Safety Strategy led by my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. Ireland's current Road Safety Strategy covers the period 2013-2020 and seeks to close the gap between Ireland and the safest countries in the European Union and beyond. Progress in relation to the actions and outcomes set out in this strategy are monitored on an ongoing basis by the Road Safety Authority and the other agencies involved, and overseen at a Ministerial Committee on Road Safety.

Insofar as road traffic enforcement is concerned, An Garda Síochána's Roads Policing Operations Plan 2016 incorporates a programme of high visibility road safety and enforcement operations, carried out in partnership with other state agencies, and is being implemented by each Regional Traffic Superintendent. The focus of the Roads Policing Operations Plan for 2016 is on the most vulnerable road user categories of motor cyclists, pedal cyclists, pedestrians and learner permit holders. Garda operations specifically target road use behaviour known to contribute significantly to collisions, including speeding, driving while intoxicated, and use of a mobile phone.

Insofar as the court case referred to by the Deputy is concerned, issues surrounding the application of Court-awarded penalty points to driving licences remains a priority for the Criminal Justice Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS) Working Group. In this context, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is currently drafting tenders in relation to the detailed implementation of the ‘master driver licence record’. This project will assist by better linking vehicle and driver databases, thereby facilitating the application of penalty points to driving licences. Other issues arising from the case referred to are being studied at present, in consultation with the relevant agencies.