Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

I agree with my Fine Gael colleague on the issue of administrative penalties. The report in the Irish Independent was so detailed that it had to have come from a source in the Department or the Government. Has the proposal to impose administrative penalties, rather than the traditional penalty of disqualification, been discussed with the Road Safety Authority and the Garda Síochána? The report indicated that people who are found to be just over the limit, or those who are convicted of a first offence, can argue that there were mitigating circumstances. In his previous position, the Minister argued bitterly against administrative penalties in the case of fisheries offences. It could be argued that such offences are much less serious than offences which lead to horrific road collisions. Has this proposal been discussed? I agree that it would be useful to discuss it at committee level. Deputies O'Dowd and McEntee and I have been discussing these matters with the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, for the past year. People would like a decision to be made at this stage. The Government seems to be rowing back — it is not telling us what it intends to do.

I would like to ask about the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. The Minister of State does not seem to be familiar with some of the issues. Some Australian states, such as Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland, have roadside drug testing. The population of Ireland is similar to that of Queensland and at least 6,000 people were tested there last year. It is happening in other jurisdictions. The Minister, Deputy Dempsey, travelled to Australia not that long ago to get these exact details. Is it not the case that the Minister of State is, at least in this sense, inadvertently misleading the House? Also, is it not true that the Medical Bureau of Road Safety asked the previous Government for more resources in order to provide comprehensive drink and drug roadside testing? Why are we still waiting for it at this stage?

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