Delay in enforcing road traffic laws must be explained – Currie

A two-year delay in enforcing legislation around illegal licence plates is a cause for concern and raises questions around how effectively road traffic laws and regulations are being implemented, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Emer Currie said: “It should not take two years for legislation passed by the Oireachtas to become operational on the ground. Road safety partners must work in alignment to ensure swift and effective implementation of laws and regulations.”

The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 introduced fixed charge notices to address the growing use of illegal number plates. Licence plates are required to comply with specific standards in colour, shape, design, and font.

According to the Department of Transport, An Garda Síochána already possessed full enforcement powers to issue a fixed charge of €60 for a range of registration plate offences.

However, when Deputy Currie asked the Minister for Justice, it was confirmed that work is still ongoing to update ICT systems so that the new offences can be added to Garda mobility devices, followed by a period of system testing.

“When I raised this delay directly with Garda representatives at the Oireachtas Transport Committee two weeks ago alongside the Road Safety campaign group PARC, they were unaware of the issue but committed to following up. The matter has since been addressed,” Deputy Currie added.

“A similar delay exists in closing the loophole that allows learner drivers to indefinitely renew their permits, some for decades, without ever taking a driving test.”

Minister Seán Canney previously committed that regulations would be introduced once driving test waiting times were reduced to ten weeks, a target achieved at the end of August. The Department of Transport has stated that the regulations are effectively ready and will be presented shortly for the Minister’s signature, with a proposed timeline for implementation.

However, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has said it is still finalising the IT specifications required to support these changes and determining how long that process will take.

Deputy Currie concluded saying: “I am calling for targeted review by the Assistant Garda Commissioner for Road Safety, the RSA, and the Departments of Transport and Justice to confirm that all legislation introduced have been fully enforced and, where there is delay, the reasons behind it.