Vol. 511 No. 3
45 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the methods employed by the gardaí in determining whether drivers of motor vehicles are driving while under the influence of drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24235/99]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that when a garda suspects a motorist of driving under the influence of an intoxicant the Garda may arrest the suspect under section 49 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 as amended. Following arrest the suspect is conveyed to a Garda station and at the station the arrested person is required to provide a sample of his or her blood or, at their option, a sample of urine.
The provided sample is then forwarded to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety where an analysis is carried out. If the presence of drugs in the person's system is evident from the sample analysis, then this evidence coupled with evidence of driving defects is presented in court to prove the offence.
I can inform the House that 32 samples were analysed for the presence of drugs in 1998.
