The long-awaited penalty points system for speeding drivers will come into force on October 31st, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan said today.
Proposals to introduce the system have been planned for four years but have been delayed by the failure to develop a computerised system for registering offenders.
The system to be implemented at the end of the month will be operated by Gardai on a manual basis and will only apply to speeding offences.
A spokeswoman at the Department of Transport said it was hoped a further 31 offences would be included as the system is introduced on a phased basis in 2003. It is expected the computerised system - which is being developed by the Department of Justice - will be ready for use late next year.
The system will see two points applied to anyone caught committing lesser offences such as driving in a bus lane or failing to wear seat belts. Speeding will also be included in the two-point category. If the driver contests the matter in court and loses, the sanction will be doubled. Drivers accumulating 12 points will be automatically disqualified for six months.
A scale of three, four and five points will be applied to more serious offences such as dangerous driving and failure to insure a vehicle and will automatically be referred to a court.
The Motor Insurance Advisory Board (MIAB) 750-page report published earlier this year recommended that following introduction of the penalty points system, insurers should be permitted access to relevant information on the national driver file.
It is hoped that such a measure would allow insurance companies to reduce premiums for safe drivers but relies on the system being computerised.
Mr Brennan also told Dublin radio station Lite FMthat there were still legal difficulties in introducing a ban on using mobile phones while driving.