Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prosecutions for uninsured driving in 2022. [25106/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, prosecutions are a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions, who is independent in her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended).

While the enforcement of road traffic legislation is an operational matter for the Garda authorities, I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of An Garda Síochána.

This includes responsibility for all Garda operations, including stopping and reporting drivers for driving without insurance and I, as Minister, have no role in these matters.

To be of assistance to the Deputy, I made enquiries with the Garda authorities who have advised that a total of 22,181 unique charges and summons were created during 2022 for Insurance Offences.