Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

My amendment No. 28 addresses the same issue as Deputy Cowley's amendment but I am happy to discuss it later.

I resubmitted amendments Nos. 29 and 30 because they provide for mandatory drug testing. Drugs have been implicated in a number of accidents. The drugs in question were for the most part prescribed. The Minister outlined the difficulties involved in devising a foolproof comprehensive test and noted that nine different testing systems had been tried in Europe but none worked. I accept that difficulties exist but they can be overcome. All I ask is that provision is made in the Bill to enable the Minister to introduce regulations when a suitable test is developed.

I do not wish to pursue people who are on prescribed drugs but want to emphasise the need for hard information as a basis for policy. Everybody has an idea with regard to improving road safety but the danger arises that, by attempting too much, we lose our focus on the real causes of accidents. That is why it is important that information is gathered at the scene of accidents. Amendment No. 29 is necessary if the other amendment is accepted. I will come back to amendment No. 28 if it will not be accepted now.

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