Latest news with #PádraigO'Sullivan
Sunday World
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Sunday World
Driver of cement lorry caught using their phone on M50
Earlier this year gardaí revealed that they issue about 60 FCPNs that come with a €120 fine and three penalty points every single day to those detected using their phone while driving Gardai on patrol on Dublin's M50 this morning spotted the driver of this cement lorry using their phone. After they were pulled over the driver was issued an FCPN (Fixed Charge Penalty Notice). 'Please be considerate of other road users and refrain from using your phone while driving,' gardai posted on X alongside a photo of the offending vehicle. Earlier this year gardaí revealed that they issue about 60 FCPNs that come with a €120 fine and three penalty points every single day to those detected using their phone while driving. That amounted to over 21,500 last year. It followed the detection of 266 motorists using their phones while driving over the course of 24 hours as part of a road safety initiative in January. An Garda Síochána held a national day of action targeting the use of a mobile phones while driving between 7am on January 15 and 7am on February 16. They were added to the 762 motorists who had already been caught by gardaí using their phones while driving since the start of the year. The cement truck is pulled over News in 90 Seconds - May 29th As the daily average of those detected using their phone while driving was 60 last year, the number of drivers in the latest day of action marked a four-fold increase on 2024. More than 21,500 drivers received fixed penalty notices in 2024 having been detected using their phones while behind the wheel. A Garda spokesperson said that driving while on the phone distracts the driver and takes their eyes and full attention away from the road. They described it as 'highly dangerous' and 'potentially life-threatening' for all road users. Almost 60,000 offences with fines and penalty points have been handed out over the last three years. Figures from the Department of Justice show that from 2022 to 2024, a total of 59,603 people were caught by gardaí driving while on the phone. With 21,888 people caught last year compared to 19,106 in 2023, and 18,609 in 2022, it suggests people are not heeding the message Senior gardaí have warned that drivers are increasingly being caught watching Netflix on their phones as well as having online work meetings and social media interactions. Those figures, which show a steady increase in charges for mobile phone use over three years, were released by gardaí following a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O'Sullivan. The Cork TD described the figures as 'very worrying'. 'I see it every day as I drive the roads of my own constituency and the motorway to Leinster House,' he told Echo Live. 'The prevalence and acceptance of these habits when behind the wheel is extremely concerning. Referring to road policing activity during the Easter bank holiday weekend, when 225 fines were issued to individuals caught driving while using their phones, he said: If that level of Garda operations was done every weekend, the possible number of offences would be enormous.' In response to Mr O'Sullivan's question on the issue in the Dáil, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan said that roads policing capacity has increased since 2024, alongside measures to increase compliance. This includes further deployment of unmarked Garda vehicles, as well as the installation of more static road safety cameras.
Extra.ie
12-05-2025
- Extra.ie
Calls for crackdown amid increasing attacks on social welfare officers
Attacks and threats of violence against Social Protection staff have more than doubled since 2022, new figures show. Now Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O'Sullivan has said the State needs to 'crack down' on the growing level of attacks on the workers. There were 358 violent incidents and threats made to staff working for the Department of Social Protection in 2022, while in 2023 it doubled to 687, with a further increase to 791 last year. The figures for the first four months of this year, 272, indicate the trend is still growing sharply. Pádraig O'Sullivan. Photo: Leah Farrell/ Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary said: 'These are disturbing figures that point to a growing culture of violence. We know about the difficulties public transport and our gardaí and hospital workers face, and this is now spreading into welfare offices. 'This is all the more egregious given that social welfare offices are the front-line for people in need and difficulty.' He added: 'Attacks on welfare staff are also attacks on the needy and on people who are in crisis.' Mr O'Sullivan, whose Dáil question revealed the figures, said: 'This must be nipped in the bud now. We need to crack down on this swiftly. Attacks on welfare officers are an act of social sabotage and should be treated in that fashion.' Responding, Minister Calleary said: 'My Department has a staffing complement of approximately 7,300 both permanent and temporary staff who deliver services through a nationwide net work of offices, with a very high level of public engagement, both through front office services (via Intreo offices, Public offices and Branch offices) and by phone through a number of contact centres.' Dara Calleary. Pic: Tom Honan Mr Calleary said the increase in incidents was 'attributable in part to increased reporting, with the introduction of the department's internal Health and Safety Incident Reporting app, which allows staff to more easily record and report relevant incidents'. The Minister added: 'My department takes its duty of care to staff very seriously, actively encouraging reporting of any incidents and with a range of robust procedures in place to respond to threats to staff, including the support of line managers, regional safety advisers and engagement with the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service. 'Staff working in our public offices undertake frontline customer services training, which includes de-escalation and diffusing techniques and procedures where required for positive customer engagement.' Mr O'Sullivan welcomed the training, but said: 'It is an unfortunate scenario where staff have to undergo such training, but the figures reveal it is necessary.'
