Mr. Fintan Towey:

We can examine the kinds of costs this may involve. I do not think they are excessive. The objective of placing the obligation on the employer to undertake tests is as a preventative measure and a deterrent. Where the employer finds that the result from the laboratory suggests that a driver has been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is a matter for the employer to decide what course of action to take.

Deputy Harrington asked which drugs could be detected by the testing regimes and the possibility that some drugs might not be covered and that, over time, more drugs may emerge that cannot be detected, causing loopholes. This is true and nobody suggests that this is a perfect regime that would catch everything. However, we know there are problems. There are people who are driving while impaired due to the presence of drugs in their systems. Based on tests done on samples, we know certain types of drugs are prevalent, such as cannabis. We are introducing new measures that give new tools to the Garda to detect and take action against drivers who have intoxicants in their systems and who are impaired.

Deputy Fitzmaurice's points on recognition of driver disqualifications were well made. Ultimately, within an EU regime we would have mutual recognition across EU countries of disqualifications. The convention that was introduced was ratified by only seven member states and only implemented in practice by Ireland and the UK. While, ultimately, there is a logic behind the idea that any offences within Europe would result in a sanction being imposed regardless of the licensing regime that has issued the driving licence in question, we are a long way from it and we are trying to re-establish the arrangements with our nearest neighbour that have fallen away, somewhat by accident.