Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, like many others, was shocked to read the article by David Labanyi in The Irish Timeson 20 February which first revealed the problems with mandatory alcohol testing, MAT. I tabled five parliamentary questions to the Tánaiste inquiring about the number of MAT checkpoints operated in each county between 2009 and 2015 and the number of disposable mouthpieces ordered by An Garda Síochána during that period. In the composite answer she provided on 28 February, the Tánaiste did not answer those questions. However, she did say, "The Garda authorities have also assured me that no issues stem from this audit with regard to the performance of MAT checkpoints or prosecutions emanating therefrom." Did the Tánaiste not mislead me and Dáil Éireann? Should she not be considering her own position? There has been much talk of the Garda Commissioner doing so.

The Garda website says that no single reason accounts for the huge discrepancy of 1 million tests that did not take place. We are told about specific counter readings and that there was no central recording process for the 1,200 devices. What are the reasons for this? What has the Tánaiste discovered?

This is one of a series of cock-ups and maladministration in the implementation of road traffic law. The Tánaiste has failed to bring forward the Courts (No. 2) Bill 2016 regarding fixed notice charges. Between 40% and 85% of road traffic speeding summonses were not served in 2015 and 2016. The wording of section 22 of the Road Traffic Act 2002 on the inspection of driving licences in court has not been fixed. I could go on all night about things that the Tánaiste has not done with regard to traffic law. Is it not time the Tánaiste considered her position?

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