Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I move amendment No. 26:

In page 6, between lines 38 and 39, to insert the following:

"5.—Where a person has been convicted of an offence under section 49 or 50 of the Principal Act, the court sentencing that person may direct that following the expiry of the period of disqualification imposed on the person, the person may not drive or attempt to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle for such further period, not exceeding 5 years, as may be specified, unless the vehicle is fitted with an alcohol ignition interlock which measures alcohol concentration in the breath prior to ignition.".

An alcohol ignition interlock is a device fitted to a car. If a court orders a person to have such a device fitted, the person must blow into it before being able to turn on the ignition. This is new technology, which has been tried in many countries, such as Australia and some European countries. While it is at an early stage the indications of the device's potential to tackle the problem of drink driving are very encouraging. As the Minister said earlier, those who are caught tend not to be just over the limit; large numbers are significantly over the limit. Similarly those who are caught tend to continue to reoffend. We need such a system to prevent those hardened lawbreakers from starting the car unless they can pass the breathalyser test.

When I spoke about this on Committee Stage the Minister indicated that this technology was all very new and might have an application. As the indications are that it will be an important tool, we should legislate for such devices in the Bill. If the RSA later decides to implement the recommendation it would not be necessary to draft new legislation. Today a spokesperson from the Road Safety Authority indicated that it very much favoured alcolocks. Let us get ahead of the posse by putting the legislation in place so that we can introduce them when the need arises.

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