FG: Traffic corps must be part of gardai

Fine Gael has called on the Government to ensure that the proposed new traffic corps will be part of An Garda Siochana.

Party spokesman Denis Naughten has claimed that Transport Minister Seamus Brennan is unclear about whether the new agency will be independent of the Gardai.

Mr Naughten said it would be ridiculous if the new corps did not have garda powers.

"If this measure goes ahead as is being suggested by the minister, it would lead to a situation where this new traffic corps could have a checkpoint in place, stop an individual for speeding who may be speeding away from a bank robbery and all the traffic corps can do is issue the person with a fine and deduct them two penalty points," he said.