Co Kildare Judge is appealing for Oireachtas to overhaul the speeding fines system

A well established Co Kildare Judge who some months ago issued the arrest of TD Claire Daly in connection to non payment of a speeding fine,  is slamming the state system of dealing with fixed penalty notices.

Judge Desmond Zaidan spoke out vehemently at Naas District Court yesterday, when 83 speeding fines came before him.

He is calling for an overhaul of a system  that is bringing people before the courts, unnecessarily.

If a person is caught for speeding, a fixed penalty notice of €80 is sent to them by post, and if this is paid in time, then they can avoid a court appearance, a much higher fine and more penalty points on their licence.

However, Judge Zaidan is concerned that a huge amount of people are coming before the courts on speeding fines, claiming that they never received a fixed penalty notice.

He said: "50 % of the time, people are coming before me, saying they did not receive  a fixed penalty notice. This whole fixed penalty notice matter has to be reviewed by the Oireachtas. "

At Naas District Court, yesterday, Judge Zaidan said: "I have not had one person before me on a speeding fine, here today, with a previous conviction."

On Wednesday  Judge Zaidan, also addressed the matter, calling for an overhaul of the system.

Some months ago, Independent TD Claire Daly  labelled Judge Desmond Zaidan’s decision to issue a warrant as “ludicrous” and claimed he was “causing huge problems with regard to the administration of justice”.

She claimed the judge singled her out for a bench warrant after she left Naas District Court.

She was fined €300 for the speeding offence and was accused of showing a “total disrespect for the law” by Mr Justice Zaidan.

The judge said he issued the warrant because Ms Daly’s solicitor did not offer a reason for his client leaving the court.

He also accused her of abusing the court process by changing her plea to not guilty while “not having the courtesy to tell the courts why”.