Vol. 415 No. 4
13 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment when it is intended to bring forward the promised amendment to road traffic legislation to tighten up on the law regarding drink-driving; if he will outline the level of alcohol, if any, which will be permitted in the new legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Proposals for amendments of the Road Traffic Acts to deal with a number of issues, including issues relating to drink-driving, are currently being finalised in my Department with a view to the presentation of a Bill in the present Dáil session.
May I ask the Minister if the Bill which he proposes to introduce in the present Dáil session will reduce the blood alcohol limit to a level more in line with the norm in the rest of the European Community?
Specific measures are being addressed with a view to including them in the Bill, such as lower blood alcohol limits, the introduction of evidential breath testing, new and longer mandatory disqualification periods and, in the case of drink-driving and dangerous driving offences a requirement that the driving test be reported before a driving licence is returned.
Would the Minister confirm that the level to which he is considering reducing the limit is 80mls, not 50 mls, as reported in one newspaper? Second, in relation to the enforcement of the trafffic law, will the Bill contain any additional provisions relating to the enforcement of road traffic law, outside of the Garda Síochána, for instance?
It would not be appropriate at this time to debate or announce in the House what limit will be put before the Government. As soon as the Government make a decision on the matter, I will be in a position to disclose it to the House. As I said, we hope to introduce a Bill in the House during this session. In relation to the enforcement of the law, we are looking at other measures such as the impounding of unregistered, untaxed and uninsured vehicles. Those issues are being addressed at present.
There will be more now in the light of the 20 per cent increase.
I would like to ask two brief questions. First, is it the Minister's intention in relation to the blood alcohol level to aim for an EC standard so that there will not be any disparity betwen EC member states; and, second, in relation to the road traffic Bill, which he has promised to introduce in this session, will that legislation deal with the permitted speed limits so that there will be a differentiation between the speed limits on the new motorways, main trunk roads and non-motorways of an inferior standard, rather than having a national ceiling?
As I have already said to Deputy Mitchell, it would not be appropriate to discuss here the details of the legislation that is being prepared.
Does the Minister think it is desirable that it be established?
We know what is in it.
Speed limits are one of the issues that will have to be addressed.
Given that the task of combating crime has to be given top priority by the Garda Síochána and that so many gardaí are being diverted to the task of enforcing traffic law — although the enforcement of traffic law is wholly inadequate — is any consideration being given, for instance, to the establishment of a traffic police for Dublin?
That would be a matter for the Minister for Justice and the Garda authorities. While it is an operational matter for the Garda Síochána everyone in the House has to be satisfied with the way in which the Garda are ensuring that the law is maintained in regard to drink-driving. The record on the way they do their duty is before the House but as I said, it is an operational matter for the Garda authorities.
I think the Minister would agree that it is wise to be concerned about enforcement.
I think every Member will accept that the Garda Síochána are doing a wonderful job in enforcing the legislation. Despite the fact that large numbers of the Garda have been enforcing this legislation during the Christmas period, there was as the Minister is aware, an appalling number of fatal accidents during that period. Indeed, the number of people killed was far higher than the figures for previous years. In conjunction with the legislation proposed would the Minister give an undertaking to carry out a study to ascertain if there are other ways by which we can reduce the number of fatal accidents and serious injuries and encompass these measures in the legislation? One package is not enough. We need to carry out an in-depth study to see——
I had hoped for brevity.
I would like to hear the Minister's reply.
I agree with the Deputy when he says that one package is insufficient. All of us should be very concerned about the number of fatalities on our roads. Legislation alone will not solve the problem.
Potholes also pose a big problem.
We need to make the public aware of the dangers and risks involved and of how we perform on the roads, in terms of speeding as well as drunk driving. That is equally important. I can assure the Deputy that the National Safety Council, under the aegis of my Department, are very much involved in looking at all aspects of the question of safety, not just on the roads. They bring forward proposals to ensure that we reduce the number of fatalities and injuries to the minimum.
Did they recommend that the potholes be filled?
A brief question from Deputy Gilmore?
May I ask the Minister if he intends to give the relatives of persons killed in road traffic accidents or their legal representatives the right in the new legislation to obtain information about the accident and to be involved in the legal process leading up to the charging of a person?
That is surely an extension of the question out of all proportion.
Is the Minister going to answer?
Question No. 15.
