An element of mischief-making may have been involved in the "leaking" of details of an internal Garda audit on how the motoring penalty points system was being implemented.
The survey took place in Dublin last January and the resulting report found the administrative system to be on the verge of collapse, with insufficient resources, archaic administrative practices and a growing backlog of work that might lead to offenders escaping punishment.
It is no secret that senior members of the Garda Síochána opposed the introduction of the penalty points system last year. They argued that a dedicated computer system was not available to process speeding offences and that the administrative work involved would take up too much Garda time.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, arranged for much of the administrative work to be carried out by a private company. And penalty points for speeding were introduced as planned.
The exercise was a huge success. It has been estimated that the lives of 58 motorists have been saved to date as a consequence of drivers obeying the speed limits. There is no doubt that a sea-change has occurred. And anything that might encourage a relapse by motorists into bad, illegal habits - such as a failure to impose penalties - must be stoutly resisted. Mr Brennan was fiercely determined about it yesterday. The law had been passed by the Oireachtas, he said, and it was up to the Garda Síochána to enforce it. They had sufficient resources and should get on with the job.
The existence of an internal Garda audit report came as a shock not just to Mr Brennan, but also to the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell. Mr Brennan expressed surprise that the audit had been conducted so early and - suggesting the source of the "leak" - that the report had become public so quickly. He did not conclude, however, that the release of the report may have been designed to delay an extension of the penalty points system, to cover the non-wearing of seat-belts and other motoring offences, scheduled for next month.
It would appear that significant changes were introduced since this audit was conducted. Superintendent John Farrelly said that computers were now being used and that speeding tickets had been reprinted. But summonses have not yet been issued to those who failed to pay speeding fines, although that exercise should have begun last January.
Such tardiness is not acceptable and must be immediately corrected. The Garda Commissioner, Mr Byrne, and his senior officers have been provided with extra resources. There should be no further foot-dragging.