Brennan to defy gardaí on penalty points

TRANSPORT Minister Seamus Brennan is to press ahead with further penalty points offences despite the opposition of a garda association.

At a launch today with top gardaí, Mr Brennan will reiterate his determination to roll out new penalty points, the first of which will be for failure to wear a seat belt.

However, at their annual conference yesterday, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors adopted a tough policy opposing the implementation of any further penalty points.

"The association is opposed to the introduction of any new penalty points offences until there is a proper computer system in place," said AGSI general secretary George Maybury.

He said there was total frustration among members with the administrative, paper-based system, which was massively time-consuming.

Mr Maybury said the existing sole penalty point offence of speeding would continue.

He said he would be writing to Garda management, Mr Brennan and Justice Minister Michael McDowell. The motion, calling for a suspension of new penalty points, was passed comfortably, despite the opposition of the AGSI national executive.

This is the third public clash between Mr Brennan and gardaí over penalty points. A spokesman for Mr Brennan last night said: "The minister has often said he is determined to roll out the remaining 61 penalty points as soon as possible, the first being non-wearing of seat belts."

He said assistant garda commissioners Noel Conroy and Tony Hickey were due to report to Mr Brennan in three weeks with proposals on how quickly penalty points for the non-wearing of seat belts could be introduced.

Mr Brennan will launch a new garda road safety campaign with the two assistant commissioners today.

Operation Taisteal, which will run from today through to the Easter weekend, will target speeding, the non-wearing of seat belts and drunk driving with an emphasis on young drivers.

Speaking at the conference yesterday, Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne also firmly rejected any threat to penalty points.

"I want to emphasise I don't see any threat to the implementation of the penalty points system as we move forward.

"We're in the business of enforcing the laws and legislation of this country. If there are difficulties we will iron them out."