Points plan for Irish hauliers
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• The Irish Republic is to introduce a UK-style penalty points system for road traffic offences. It will cover offences from speeding to failing to wear seat-belts. Drivers who accumulate more than a stated number of points could be banned; even a few points could push up insurance premiums. Speeding and drink-driving are also being targeted in a crackdown on avoidable road accidents The Irish Road Haluage Association met the republic's Transport Minister this week to demand action on illegal immigrants after 47 were found in two containers from Cherbourg.
New regulations say carrying refugees into Ireland will result in jail or unlimited fines. Trucks will be seized and transport licences cancelled.
Irish hauliers say they are victims of a lack of enforcement in Cherbourg and are concerned at the implications of the regulations. • :.• Irish motorists have been urged to check their insurance policies following a warning that an insurance scam has been uncovered in the Republic
At least one firm, which Transport Minister Noel Tracey, TD refused to name, has provided invalid insurance certificates to its customers.
The scam worked by naming the firm as the insured, with the owner of the vehicle as the named driver on the policy. Insurance companies had issued the policies to the firm, which passed them on to its clients at a discount.
"There is neither insurance for the owner, the driver, or a third party on such policies," says Tracey. "The firm responsible is not a registered insurance broker. People should check with my deportment if they are in doubt about a policy."
The scam was uncovered when the firm's name was replicated on a number of applications to insurance companies.