Examiner report brings TD penalty points issue into spotlight

The issue of TDs having penalty points wiped from their record is back in the spotlight today after an Irish Examiner investigation reveals 76% of Dáil deputies have admitted they never had penalty points removed.

However, when contacted by the newspaper, five TDs refused to answer the question while 32 deputies failed to respond to the query.

The five TDs who refused to discuss the matter are Fine Gael's Paul Keogh, Fianna Fáil's Niall Collins and Timmy Dooley along with the Independent TDs Michael Lowry and Michael Healy-Rae.

Political Reporter with the Irish Examiner, Juno McEnroe, said: "I suppose one of the more colourful ploys would be from Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae, who when I contacted him, decided to explain a lot about his driving habits, but wouldn't actually answer the question if he'd had any penalty points cancelled.

"He said 'I am the most guilty man in the house', that's the houses of the Oireachtas, 'for speeding over the years. More guilty than anyone else for speeding, I am very honest and open, but I don’t have to answer those questions'."