Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I accept the spirit of the amendment and the Deputy's motive in tabling it to strengthen the legislation. I examined it carefully and took advice from the Office of the Attorney General and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. Due to the nature and volume of challenges in the courts to all intoxicated driving offences and the current acceptance by the courts of the well-established meaning of "intoxicant" as provided for in the Road Traffic Acts, I was advised it would be foolish to accept this amendment.

The next road traffic Bill will focus on drugs testing and I promise the Deputy I will have his amendment considered in that context. However, I am not prepared to take the risk on it in this legislation. I hope the Deputy will appreciate where I am coming from on this matter.

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