Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Feb 2000

Vol. 515 No. 3

Written Answers. - Road Safety.

Derek McDowell

Question:

43 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the representations, if any, made to the European Commission regarding its proposals for an EU-wide limit on blood alcohol level for drivers and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5974/00]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

I assume that the question refers to current work by the European Commission, which has involved some informal consultation with member states, and which is aimed at developing a new and comprehensive Commission proposal to counter the alcohol and drug factor in road accidents. There is also an earlier Commission proposal, presented in 1988, for the harmonisation of blood alcohol limits at 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood; this has not however been progressed by the Transport Council.

In relation to the current European Commission work which involves the EU high level group on road safety, my Department's contribution to the consultations has been based on the principles already set out in the Government strategy for road safety 1998-2002. These recognise the relatively recent introduction of the 80 milligrams blood alcohol limit in Ireland, and the consequent priority to improve compliance with this requirement rather than to move to new limits. The Government strategy also recognises that, in recent years, more EU member states have either moved from an 80 milligrams to a 50 milligrams blood alcohol limit, or are considering such a move; and the possibility that the European Commission may reactivate its proposal for a harmonised EU limit of 50 milligrams. The strategy concludes that the Government will follow the progress of these developments, as well as progress towards relevant national road safety targets, in considering the adequacy of the present 80 milligrams limit in Ireland.