Statement by Deputy Tommy Broughan
Independent - Dublin Bay North
Monday, 23 November 2015
THE COURTS SERVICE DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH - BROUGHAN
Deputy Broughan notes the comments by the president of the District Court today disputing drink-driving conviction rates. As an elected Dáil representative, Deputy Broughan regularly requests and receives information through Parliamentary Questions. Statistics relating to the Courts Service are notoriously difficult to come by where months often pass without concrete information being sent to the Deputy.
Earlier this summer, Deputy Broughan received replies from Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald regarding the application of penalty points once convicted of these offences, the lack of convictions for persons using a mobile phone while driving and drink-driving conviction rates. The Courts Service has taken umbrage to the analysis of figures provided by them showing that out of 20,830 cases listed 8,391 were convicted. Of course, the Courts Service did not provide full information also listing how many cases were adjourned or struck-out, therefore an analysis was completed of the information provided by the Courts Service.
Deputy Broughan says “When the Courts Service originally disputed these figures I did not make a statement as I currently have follow-up questions and further questions around penalty points which are awaiting answer. Today’s comments by the president of the District Court however are highly disrespectful to Deputies and groups such as PARC road safety group who are made jump through hoops to find out information that should be available in a timely and transparent way. While the independence of the Courts is of utmost importance transparent reporting of data and statistics does not interfere with this independence and must be demanded by Ministers Donohue and Fitzgerald. The real ‘disservice’ to the public here is the fact that we cannot rely on stats provided to publicly elected reps by the Courts Service.”
Very Best Wishes,
Tommy Broughan T.D.
Independent - Dublin Bay North
Monday, 23 November 2015
THE COURTS SERVICE DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH - BROUGHAN
Deputy Broughan notes the comments by the president of the District Court today disputing drink-driving conviction rates. As an elected Dáil representative, Deputy Broughan regularly requests and receives information through Parliamentary Questions. Statistics relating to the Courts Service are notoriously difficult to come by where months often pass without concrete information being sent to the Deputy.
Earlier this summer, Deputy Broughan received replies from Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald regarding the application of penalty points once convicted of these offences, the lack of convictions for persons using a mobile phone while driving and drink-driving conviction rates. The Courts Service has taken umbrage to the analysis of figures provided by them showing that out of 20,830 cases listed 8,391 were convicted. Of course, the Courts Service did not provide full information also listing how many cases were adjourned or struck-out, therefore an analysis was completed of the information provided by the Courts Service.
Deputy Broughan says “When the Courts Service originally disputed these figures I did not make a statement as I currently have follow-up questions and further questions around penalty points which are awaiting answer. Today’s comments by the president of the District Court however are highly disrespectful to Deputies and groups such as PARC road safety group who are made jump through hoops to find out information that should be available in a timely and transparent way. While the independence of the Courts is of utmost importance transparent reporting of data and statistics does not interfere with this independence and must be demanded by Ministers Donohue and Fitzgerald. The real ‘disservice’ to the public here is the fact that we cannot rely on stats provided to publicly elected reps by the Courts Service.”
Very Best Wishes,
Tommy Broughan T.D.
