Minster and commissioner agree to overhaul penalty points system

The justice minister and garda commissioner have agreed to overhaul the penalty points system after a damning report found significant deficiencies in how gardaí administer fines.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter conceded that the garda inspectorate probe showed that “technical, administrative and management problems” had built up in the system for years.

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan also last night rowed back on previous comments where he said the actions of garda whistleblowers were “disgusting” and stressed instead that gardaí should report wrongdoing.