Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2017
764. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a private firm will be engaged to examine the samples taken from motorists as part of roadside drug testing which is to be commenced at Easter 2017 under the Road Traffic Act 2016; the name of any such firms engaged; if there was a tender process; the way in which this company was selected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9884/17]
View answerI think that the Deputy may have misunderstood the legislation in this area.
The new roadside drug tests are preliminary tests conducted by An Garda Síochána in the same way as the existing roadside preliminary breath tests for alcohol. The preliminary tests involve the use of devices to test oral fluid for the presence of drugs at the roadside. Similarly to the roadside breath screening devices used by An Garda Síochána, the new oral fluid drug screening devices are being supplied to the Gardaí by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. Where a driver is arrested for failing a preliminary drug test, an evidentiary specimen will be taken in a Garda Station and sent to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety for confirmatory analysis as per the Road Traffic Act, 2010 (as amended). No private firm will be engaged to examine the samples taken from motorists under the legislation.
