Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

That is unfortunate because the Minister should have used the opportunity available to him.

A variety of issues will arise at the side of the road with regard to record keeping. I am not satisfied that the Garda's record-keeping capabilities are adequate to deal with a situation in which somebody is convicted of an offence or pays a fixed penalty and is disqualified for six months. For example, it can be up to six months before a person receives notice of a fixed penalty for speeding. If people are now to be disqualified for a further six months, what happens if they are caught a second time during the six months in which the first notice is being processed? I would not share the Minister's confidence in the records and data available to the Garda.

It appears that fixed penalties will not be recorded as convictions. Why should records not be kept of what, in essence, are convictions? The driver concerned has admitted he or she was over the limit and received a fine and disqualification.

No mention is made of the penalty which could have been introduced to demote a driver from a full to a provisional licence upon a drink driving conviction, even though the Minister referred to such a provision. It would be an effective way of changing the culture of drink driving.

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