The first phase of the penalty points system is to start tomorrow despite continuing reservations among gardaí about the manner of its introduction.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) yesterday removed any threat to the scheme, saying it "fully supports any measure" which would reduce the death toll on Irish roads. In a further change of tone, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (ASGI), which last week described the system's manual element as "excessively bureaucratic" and "unworkable", said its co-operation was never in doubt.
However, both organisations said they continued to stand over their criticisms of the manner and speed of the scheme's introduction.
Their comments came after Garda management admitted it had yet to brief the force fully on the initiative. Assistant Commissioner Mr Tony Hickey said briefings had been given to all of the Garda regions with the exception of the eastern region but, he said, this would be done in the next few days.
Only speeding is covered by the first phase of the scheme. Offending drivers will be fined €80 and have two penalty points endorsed against their licence. If 12 such points are accumulated in a three-year period the driver will lose his or her licence for six months.
A total of 61 other offences are to be included in the scheme once the computerised National Driver File (NDF) is operational next year.
Announcing details yesterday, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, said he would introduce a separate order in the coming weeks requiring drivers to carry their driving licences at all times while driving from January 1st next. He said gardaí would enforce the requirement from that date, although no penalty points would apply to the offence until the penalty points scheme was fully operational later next year.
A spokesman for the Minister said Mr Brennan was examining whether an interim penalty might be introduced for not carrying a licence, or whether offenders would have to be pursued through the courts.
Addressing the complaints of Garda bodies, Mr Brennan said the system was "not a bureaucratic bit of nonsense I dreamt up" but rather a scheme which had been proven in other countries to reduce road deaths. The Road Traffic Act 2002, under which the system was being introduced, had been law since last March, and the system itself had been talked about since 1997. "There is nothing to be gained from waiting any longer."
Speaking on the same platform, the Assistant Commissioner said it involved "a minimum amount of paperwork", which would not pose a difficulty to gardaí who were already used to policing the area.
However, a spokesman for the AGSI said last night "our concerns about the amount of additional paperwork remain the same." A member of the association has carried out an analysis of the initiative, showing it would require every sergeant to carry out 14 extra tasks in each speeding case. "We would have preferred if a comprehensive, modern system came in in one go rather than having this particular system which has such a large manual element," the AGSI spokesman added.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the GRA said it expressed its concerns about the absence of information at a meeting with senior Garda management yesterday afternoon. However, it said the GRA had been assured that all gardaí would be adequately informed by tomorrow. "Management has further assured us that the implementation of this initiative will not increase the administrative workload on our members."
