‘Enough resources’ to police the roads

Assistant Commissioner Gerard Phillips, who heads the Traffic Corps, said the numbers within his own ranks were down in recent years but that this had no impact on enforcement.

“We have the resources and we are dealing with it. Nobody will ever say you don’t need any more officers. We have been dealt a hand, we are working to the full potential with that hand.”

Mr Phillips was responding to claims over the weekend by road safety tsar Gay Byrne that dwindling Garda numbers has resulted in an increase in people taking chances on the roads again.

Mr Phillips said the figures for road offence detections did not reflect a drop in Traffic Corps numbers, from more than 1,200 to 854.

Speaking at the launch of a road safety initiative targeting tourists, Mr Phillips said it was not just the Traffic Corps that was manning the roads, but regular units as well.

The tourist initiative will see road safety manuals printed in eight languages and placed in all of the country’s estimated 18,000 rental cars this summer.

Over the last four-and-a-half years, 22 visitors to Ireland have been killed on the roads while 34 have been seriously injured.

Mr Brett said billboards at airports and ports, as well as messages online and in the press will target tourists driving, cycling, and walking while also asking Irish drivers to be forgiving and helpful to visitors.

Meanwhile, Michael Ring, the junior tourism minister, said there should be no Garda discretion for anybody involved in motoring misdemeanours.

Speaking about the penalty points controversy, the Fine Gael TD called for the abolition of the current system that allows officers to quash penalties in certain circumstances.

“Whoever gets their points should take their points, there should be no wavering of points for anybody,” he said. “I hope that system that was there will be got rid of immediately.

“I never knew that system was there, and all I want to say, quite clearly and loudly, is anybody who gets their points should take their points, pay for their points, and there should be no discretion for anybody in relation to points.”