Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----but the defence of reasonable excuse only applies in respect of a failure to comply with a requirement under section 4(b)(ii), which is in regard to moving a vehicle in the vicinity of a checkpoint. A person who refuses or fails to comply with a requirement to provide a breath test cannot avail of the reasonable excuse defence. The Minister saw fit here last night to avail of the reasonable excuse defence.

The Minister has questions hanging over him and he must answer them. He has the wherewithal to put a report into the public domain to clear the office. That is the important point.

I have summarised the issues we have with the Minister politically, those that are policy driven and those regarding the office he holds. He has abused power for his own political gain. He has closed Garda stations and taken a policy direction with which we disagree. He has a relationship with the Garda Commissioner which we believe is now compromised. He has a relationship with the Judiciary which is exceptionally compromised, and he has not overseen the proper workings of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman.

I have not mentioned the Minister's attempt to shut down the Morris tribunal.

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