Garda Operations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2017

Thursday, 30 March 2017

Questions (97)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

97. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to An Garda Síochána's statement of 24 March 2017 regarding the number of drivers breathalysed and the numbers recorded, whereby it was stated that concerns around accuracy arose following breath tests at road traffic collisions, if she will report on the exact causes which gave rise to these concerns and the discrepancies that were discovered from the scenes of RTCs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15873/17]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I understand from the Garda authorities that the reference mentioned by the Deputy arose in relation to the issue that at the time in question there was no facility on the PULSE system to properly record the reason(s) why breath tests at Road Traffic Collisions may not have been taken. I am advised that the necessary facility was subsequently added to the PULSE system to enable reasons to be recorded. The Deputy will appreciate that this is a separate issue from the concerns that have arisen in relation to roadside testing and I understand that An Garda Síochána have no similar concerns about the recording of statistics in relation to tests taken at RTCs.