Vol. 530 No. 3
196 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the EU Commission recommendation that the drink-driving limit of blood alcohol should be reduced to a level of 0.5 mg/l; if he will introduce such limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3781/01]
A maximum permitted Commission recommendation on the blood alcohol content – BAC – for drivers of motorised vehicles was addressed to member states in January 2001. This sets out the Commission's position on a range of matters relevant to alcohol impaired driving, including the recommendation that all member states should adopt a blood alcohol limit of 0.5 mg per ml of blood or lower. It is envisaged that the Transport Council will respond to this Commission recommendation and this process is now being addressed by COREPER.
The Irish position on this matter will be based on the principles set out in the Government Strategy for Road Safety 1998-2002. These recognise the relatively recent introduction of the 80 milligram blood alcohol limit in Ireland and the consequent priority to improve compliance with this requirement rather than to move to new limits. The strategy also stated that the Government would follow the progress of developments internationally, as well as progress towards relevant national road safety targets, in considering the adequacy of the present 80mg limit in Ireland.
