Penalty points system not a ‘complete mess’, says McDowell

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell denies he is on a collision course with gardaí over the penalty points system.

Faced with a possible revolt by rank-and-file members over the extension of the system, Mr McDowell said he welcomed yesterday’s comments by AGSI general secretary George Maybury on the issue.

“I am happier as to what he has said on radio today. He indicated that he fully accepted that policy decisions as to the running of the police and their duties was established by the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice, and not by representatives of the Association,” Mr McDowell said.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony at the Garda College, Templemore, Co Tipperary, Mr McDowell said he did not accept that the penalty points system is “a complete mess”.

He said up to 60 lives had been saved on our roads following the introduction of the points system.

However, he conceded that it was unsatisfactory that the system is being managed on a manual basis.

“It would be unconscionable, immoral and downright disgraceful if we had refused go ahead with the implementation of the system simply because it was more convenient to wait for the introduction of the computerised system,” Mr McDowell said.

When questioned about the lack of garda resources, the minister said that Mayo, which has a much smaller population than Dublin, sees two-and-a-half times as many prosecutions for underage drinking.

That reflects the policy of implementation and enforcement on the part of the gardaí and the local judiciary, he said.

“It is not a question of resources but a question of management application and determination. There are many more gardaí in Dublin than there are in Co Mayo.”

The minister said the capacity of the Garda College in Templemore is about 650 recruits a year, and this will be used to its maximum over the next two years to bring the strength of the force to 12,200. He added that plans to increase the force to 14,000 gardaí are still in place, and “will be implemented when economic and financial circumstances permit”.