Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2017
565. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 795 of 20 June 2017 and 552 of 26 July 2017, if the report is now available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47073/17]
View answerI have been informed by the Garda authorities that training in respect of the use of oral fluid testing is ongoing and that 1,856 members of An Garda Síochána nationwide have received training.
I am further informed that the oral fluid test is only one of the options open to members of An Garda Síochána in respect of the detection of drug driving offences. Members of An Garda Síochána may form the opinion that a driver is under the influence of an intoxicant from their observation of the persons driving or the behaviour and appearance of the person when stopped.
In addition, the power to conduct an Impairment Test is provided under section 11, Road Traffic Act, 2010, as amended, which permit members of An Garda Síochána to require a driver to perform a number of tests in order for the member to establish if the driver is committing an offence. These provisions have been further extended by the Road Traffic Act, 2016 which permits members of An Garda Síochána to perform an impairment test following arrest in respect of certain road traffic offences. 2,067 members of An Garda Síochána nationwide have received training in conducting Impairment Testing.
I have requested again a report from An Garda Síochána in relation to "the number of Gardaí in each district that have been trained in use of a device (Dräger 5000 for preliminary roadside drug testing) and are currently carrying out such tests", and I can assure the Deputy that I will be in contact directly on receipt of a Garda report.
