A judge has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Independents4Change TD Clare Daly for a motoring offence.

Ms Daly was to appear before Judge Desmond Zaidan today at Naas District Court.

She turned up to court this morning with her solicitor, but left again when she saw a large number of people waiting for their cases to be heard before hers.

When Judge Zaidan heard that Ms Daly had left the court he issued a bench warrant for her arrest with discretion.

Ms Daly, with an address in Swords, Dublin, was charged with speeding in Newbridge, Co Kildare on 1 January 2016.

Ms Daly's solicitor pleaded with the judge not to issue the warrant and said he would have Ms Daly in the court next week.

Ms Daly has said the warrant is a distraction.

She said she attended the court but was number 188 out of 188 cases. She said her solicitor was present, and indicated that the matter would be resolved.