Professor Denis Cusack:

The Chairman asked us how the committee could help us and I will put forward two things - which go also to legislation and are obviously within the remit of the committee - polydrug use; and alcohol and drugs. We have had graded penalties for years the higher the alcohol level is. In fact, like taxation, we have a very progressive scale but we do not have it for alcohol plus a drug, or a drug plus a drug, which I put forward many years ago and I know that the Minister supports that.

Second, we must look at repeat or high-risk offenders. I have some startling figures about repeat offenders; the Garda is looking at this matter with us and we are trying to put it in a medical context. Some people have an addiction or health problem with alcohol and drugs so we have got to try to find out, as well as being punitive, how can we support them through rehabilitation and medical support. I shall give one figure. In 2021, we had 15 drivers who were in three times, with a blood and urine sample, and one driver was in 15 times in three months. We must identify those people, and the gardaí are working with us on that, because we see that. Let us be charitable and consider ways to help those people to get off the road so they are not a danger to themselves and others. Somebody who presents 15 times in three months medically has a problem.