Senior gardaí admitted to the Garda Inspectorate that, but for the public scrutiny, failures in the fixed charge processing system would not have come to light.

THE abysmal failure of this Government to tackle the horrifying carnage on our roads is unlikely to inspire public confidence in the top level group convened by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to reduce the number of road deaths.

Any initiative to make our roads safer by reducing the appalling carnage committed on them is to be welcomed, such as the intention to inhibit speeding as announced yesterday in relation to speed cameras.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell is set to double the number of gardaí working in the Traffic Corps in an effort to tackle the high number of road deaths in Ireland.

THE Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB), originally promised for early 2002, will now be up and running by the beginning of next year, Mary Harney promised yesterday.