Mr. John Wilson:

The assistant commissioner is adamant that intoxicated driving is a crime. If a member of An Garda Síochána is convicted in the District Court or any court for theft or fraud, he or she will be dismissed from An Garda Síochána having notched up a criminal conviction. If a member of An Garda Síochána is convicted of drink-driving, he or she will not be sacked from An Garda Síochána unless he or she is on probation. Otherwise, I am aware of a couple of cases in which gardaí were convicted and remained on as serving members of An Garda Síochána. Drink-driving is not a crime, it is a road traffic offence.

It may be included in the canon of crimes or whatever but it is not seen or regarded as a criminal offence. That is a fact. If an individual is before the court for the first time or 101st time for drink-driving or driving while intoxicated, the maximum conviction is six months imprisonment and a €5,000 fine. That is a fact. Drink-driving is not classified or regarded as a crime in this country. To reiterate, if an individual is convicted of stealing a pair of underwear from a shop in Grafton Street, he or she would have a criminal conviction. As Ms Price has correctly stated, all drink-driving cases are heard in the District Court.