Shatter clashes with Byrne over road safety enforcement

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has clashed with the chairman of the Road Safety Authority, Gay Byrne, over the level of enforcement by gardaí of road traffic legislation, accusing the broadcaster of questioning his commitment to road safety.

It follows a call by the RSA chairman on the minister in May to personally intervene with the gardaí amid concern about the link between falling enforcement levels and a rising number of fatalities on the roads in 2013. A total of 137 people have died so far this year — 16 more than the corresponding period in 2012.

Documents seen by the Irish Examiner show Mr Shatter remonstrated with the broadcaster for creating “an entirely false impression” that traffic enforcement was no longer a Government or Garda priority. Mr Shatter insisted that enforcement levels remained “high and determined”.