Vol. 436 No. 3
59 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the number of motorists breathalysed in December in each of the years 1991 and 1992; the number of motorists found to be in excess of the legally permitted alcohol limit; if priority will be given to the enforcement of drink driving laws in December 1993; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that 6,314 motorists were breathalysed in December 1991, and 5,748 breathalysed in December 1992. As regards the numbers of these motorists who tested positive, I am informed that statistics are not compiled in a way that provides the information sought and to extract the information would require the expenditure of an unwarranted amount of Garda time and resources. However, I can state that of 19,269 persons breath-tested in 1992, 5,574 tested positive. This compares with 6,644 positive breath tests from a total of 18,376 such tests carried out in 1991.
The Garda authorities have informed me that a special compaign of law enforcement measures will take place over the Christmas period additional to the ongoing strict and sustained enforcement of the road traffic laws. This campaign will be particularly aimed at discouraging drivers from driving while in excess of the legally permitted level of alcohol.
