Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Based on the figures I provided, this issue is a major problem. I do not want to say anything that takes away from that. I and all my Cabinet colleagues have spent an extraordinary amount of time recently trying to resolve some of the issues, for example, the PULSE system and the extension of the penalty points system to more areas. The traffic corps is a dedicated group. The Minister has given the figures in the corps for this year and next year. An assistant commissioner now has charge of the corps, with no other responsibility.

The Deputy asked about random breath testing, and that will be reflected in the changes. There are difficulties concerning how it is legally dealt with, but both the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Minister for Transport have been meeting to resolve the issue and bring it forward in the road testing legislation. They believe a resolution can be found. There are legal issues with the current practice, which I find quite extraordinary. What can be done at night time cannot be done in daytime. I do not believe this stands up, but that is current practice. Gardaí have powers to do things in the evening that they cannot do in daytime. If somebody is drink driving, there should be no difference in applying the rules and the Ministers are trying to resolve these issues.

A campaign announced today will cover issues associated with the Christmas period such as drink driving. Unfortunately, I know the public is upset at times when there is more stringent enforcement of the law through more check points and breath tests etc., but I see no alternative. We cannot allow a situation continue where hundreds of people, more than one a day, die. Although people feel abused and do not like the checks, there is no alternative except to take tough action, and that is the way the Cabinet is proceeding.

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