Fianna Fáil calls for naming of penalty point evaders

If any wrong doing has taken place in relation to the erasing of penalty points from drivers’ records, then those responsible must be named, Fianna Fáil transport spokesman Timmy Dooley said today.

However both Mr Dooley and the party’s justice spokesman Niall Collins declined to reveal whether thier own penalty points had ever been erased, or the level of points, if any currently applied to their own licences. Both men claimed their personal details were a private matter.

Speaking outside Leinster House where they said they would be presenting a Bill to introduce stricter penalties for hit-and-run drivers, the Opposition spokesmen said they would be watching closely what Minister for Justice Alan Shatter would say on the penalty points issue, when he addresses the Dáil later today.

Asked if the public should know the names of anyone involved in wrong doing in erasing penalty points from the licences of TDs , journalists and celebrities, Mr Dooley said: “I think it is fair to say that we should.”

While he said it would be “premature” to comment on the penalty points report itself in advance of its publication, he said: “Yes, absolutely if wrongdoing has been identified then then of course it should be exposed.”

Asked about his own driving record : “I don’t talk about my penalty points. I believe they are a private and a personal matter. But I am subject to the law as everybody else is and that relates to any wrongdoing in relation to that and I think that is right and fitting that members of this House, members of the Oireachtas, should not be treated any differently to any other citizens in society.”

Mr Collins also refused to say if he had ever had any penalty points wiped from his licence, or the level of points, if any, he held.

“That is my own personal data and I don’t divulge any personal data I am no different to any other citizen in that regard it is personal data and that is pretty much where I leave it.”

Mr Collins said in relation to the penalty points report from the Minister: “It has been reported that the names are being redacted.”

He said it was understandable that if anyone would be named, then “natural justice” would require that they be given a chance to defend themselves. He said he wouldn’t “second guess “ what was in the report.