Main recommendations arising from penalty points reports

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has asked the Garda Inspectorate to oversee the implementation of the main recommendations arising from the penalty points cancellation controversy.

The proposals are contained in two new reports: one from the Garda outlining the findings of its investigations into allegations of widespread Garda corruption in the terminating of points and one by the Garda Professional Standards Unit into the procedures for cancelling penalty points. The recommendations include:

A new directive should be issued from Garda Headquarters to all Garda members setting out the correct procedures for cancelling penalty points and emphasising they must retain all paperwork around a cancellation request.

Penalty points should be terminated only by the superintendent, or an inspector acting as a superintendent, in the district where the offence occurred.

The centralised fixed charge (penalty points) processing office should be the only entity responsible for gaining access to the computer database and physically terminating points.

A renewed emphasis should be placed on an evidence-based approach when cancelling penalty points, such as the provision of a medical cert when health grounds are cited.

Checks should be introduced that would flag when people repeatedly petition for points to be terminated.

A system of regular auditing of points cancellations should be introduced.