Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 140:

In page 71, before line 1, to insert the following:

107.(1) In a prosecution of a safety critical worker for an offence under section 99 for refusing or failing to comply with a requirement to provide 2 specimens of his or her breath, it is a defence for the defendant to satisfy the court that there was a special and substantial reason for his or her refusal or failure and that, as soon as practicable after the refusal or failure concerned, he or she complied (or offered, but was not called upon, to comply with a requirement under the section concerned in relation to the taking of a specimen of blood or the provision of a specimen of urine.

(2) In a prosecution of a safety critical worker for an offence under section 99 or 100 for refusing or failing to comply with a requirement to permit a designated medical practitioner to take a specimen of blood or for refusing or failing to comply with a requirement of a designated medical practitioner in relation to the taking of a specimen of blood, it is a defence for the defendant to satisfy the court that there was a special and substantial reason for his or her refusal or failure and that, as soon as practicable after the refusal or failure concerned, he or she complied (or offered, but was not called upon, to comply) with a requirement under the section concerned in relation to the provision of a specimen of urine.

(3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), evidence may be given at the hearing of a charge of an offence under section 96 that the defendant refused or failed to comply with a requirement to provide 2 specimens of his or her breath, or that the defendant refused or failed to comply with a requirement to permit the taking of a specimen of his or her blood or to comply with a requirement of a designated medical practitioner in relation to the taking of a specimen of blood, as the case may be.

(4) It is not a defence for a person charged with an offence under section 96 to show that, in relation to the facts alleged to constitute the offence, an analysis or determination under this Chapter, has not been carried out or that he or she has not been requested under section 97 to provide a specimen of his or her breath.".

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