Abuse of penalty points system ‘cost State millions’

A Dáil committee has come into possession of information that suggests further widespread abuse of the penalty points system which may have cost the State millions of euro.

The Public Accounts Committee is receiving legal advice on whether “a box of evidence” can be used in hearings which will focus on how much money has been lost by the State through a failure to properly implement the system.

The committee has scheduled hearings for Jan 23, when Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan is due to give evidence — and it now looks likely that at least one Garda whistleblower will also give evidence on that day.