VARADKAR ON PAC/PENALTY-POINTS
The Minister for Transport says it is certainly the case that some Gardai have abused their discretionery powers when it comes to penalty points.
His comments come as the Garda Commissioner is due to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) later this morning.
Martin Callinan is expected to dismiss allegations of rampant abuse of the penalty points system.
He will explain that a sports star – who was accused of speeding five times in one day – was actually someone else with the same name, who had been trying to save their belongings from a flooded house.
But he will also have to face questions on why some garda stations cancel more notices than others, and why fines are not paid for three out of every 10 motoring offences.
Minister Leo Varadkar says the best way to deal with the matter is to be up-front – and he says some officers have abused the system.
“I think that’s certainly the case and we know that from the information given to us from the whistleblowers; we even know it from the gardai’s own report” he said.
“I think the best way the gardai can protect the reputation of the force is to be transparent and up-front, and to be very open about any misuse or abuse of the penalty points system or discretionary system that has happened in the past – and to take the necessary disciplinary action” he added.
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