The use of hand-held mobile phones while driving may be added to the list of violations punishable under a new penalty points system being planned to tackle motoring offences.
Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Bobby Molloy, told a Dáil committee yesterday he was considering creating a new offence to outlaw the practice under the Road Traffic Bill 2001.
The Bill, which provides for the long-promised penalty points system, reached an important milestone on its way to becoming law yesterday when discussion on amendments to the draft legislation concluded at the Select Committee on Environment and Local Government.
Penalty points, and the other provisions contained in the Bill, are unlikely to become law until late this year, however. Mr Molloy said the Bill may require a new amendment to allow for a mobile phone ban.
The Minister has also to refer a section of the Bill to the Attorney- General after concern was expressed that it could pave the way for the creation of a private traffic police corps and the privatisation of the drivers' licence, motor taxation, traffic warden, school warden, road signage and breathalyser services.
Labour spokesperson on the environment, Mr Eamon Gilmore, described the section as "astonishing". "It is so sweeping that it beggars belief," he said.
Mr Molloy said the section was included to put on a firmer footing decisions such as the contracting out of the National Car Test and the possible privatisation of the driver testing service.
It was not intended to provide for the wholesale privatisation of services, he said, but he agreed to take the advice of the Attorney- General.
On the operation of the penalty points system, the Minister told the committee he could not stop insurance companies asking customers to declare accumulated points.
Fine Gael's Mr Denis Naughton said this was of "huge concern" to the public as it was expected insurers would load the premiums of motorists with points on their licence.