Deirdre Clune
Question:383 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to introduce drug testing for drivers of motorised vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3010/00]
Written Answers. - Road Traffic Offences.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is an offence to drive, or be in charge of a vehicle, while under the influence of drugs. Section 49 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, as inserted by section 10 of the Road Traffic Act 1994, prohibits the driving of a mechanically propelled vehicle by a person while under the influence of an intoxicant – an intoxicant includes alcohol and drugs and any combination of drugs and alcohol.
Where a Garda suspects a motorist of driving a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, a sample can be taken and forwarded through the Medical Bureau of Road Safety to the State laboratory at Abbotstown for analysis. If the presence of drugs in the driver's system is evident from the sample analysis, then this evidence coupled with the evidence of driving defects can be presented in court to prove the offence.
I am informed that in 1998, on request from the Garda Síochána, the medical bureau arranged for 32 samples to be analysed by the State laboratory for the testing for presence of drugs, the corresponding figure for 1999 was 50.