Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I can guarantee that the drugs on the list produced by the Deputies, as well as other substances, will be considered. This is under constant surveillance but we know from the MBRS that these three are the most commonly used drugs and in that context, the testing for them will be the easiest to implement. If that works, we will extend the list. We are quite prepared to look at that. In fact, we are looking at it at the moment. In the interests of getting this Bill through, we want to go ahead with the ones we have. We do not want to continuously, month by month, add drugs to the list, one by one. That would just make it totally impractical. We will certainly look at it and we are considering extending the list but we want to go ahead with these three now. This is urgent. I do not want to say anything to alarm people but it is very urgent that we get this particular Bill through because of the number of deaths on the road. As everyone here knows, the numbers are increasing by 20% per annum. We want to include drugs, specifically. That is one of the main tenets of this Bill but we do not want to continuously delay this legislation because we are adding on bits and pieces here, there and everywhere which may be beneficial. I guarantee that we will be adding to the list and the Deputies can see the frequency with which road traffic Bills come before the House. I guarantee that this will be under constant surveillance and we will take a sympathetic view of the suggestions that have been made today.