Results 9,441-9,460 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: That is a completely different issue, as the Deputy knows. It is a bigger issue than this particular Bill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: Yes, certainly. That is not a problem, and for anybody else who wants it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: The figure is down to 16, yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for her questions. Although a lot of them are really more appropriate for the Department of Justice and Equality, I will certainly take them on board. We will consider them when we are drafting the legislation. We are not using the statistics to which she is referring for this particular Bill, which is very short. If the Deputy can point out any place where...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: I think that is probably right. The Deputy cited figures based on a group of 35 people, of whom 19 were in the 21 to 50 mg bracket and 16 were in the 51 to 80 mg bracket. I find that interesting. I am not sure what to read into it. If it tells me anything, it is that anyone over 21 mg is impaired. A statement from the World Health Organization, WHO, which is another authority which I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: Obviously some medicines combined with alcohol can also increase impairment. We know that. The new roadside drugs tests are to be commenced very shortly as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: While I get the Deputy's point, that is not an argument against reducing rates. Of course there are other elements in there. We are not pretending that there are not other elements which contribute to impairment. That does not mean we should not introduce this legislation. It is not an argument against this legislation at all.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: As soon as possible. It is coming here because it is a matter of urgency. I think the committee wants another week to consider it, perhaps to meet the vintners and a couple of others, is that right?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: Provided the committee can get that through, next week maybe, I will bring it to the Dáil and I am promised a very early slot. I would be amazed if it is not through the Dáil by the end of May or June, certainly by the summer recess.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: Sorry?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: I was asked for a timeframe. I am not presuming anything but am giving what I would hope to see is the timetable. It is a matter of urgency because lives are at stake.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: The breathalyser test that takes place on the roadside is only a preliminary test. Yes, the breathalyser is used in other countries.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: I do not know the technique or the measures they take from that. I will have to find that out for the Deputy. It is only a measure and it is not used in evidence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: That is correct.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: The breathalyser is calibrated by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety and it just reads "pass" or "fail". It is just an indication. If a person fails a breathalyser test, he or she goes to the Garda station and a decision is taken on what happens next. It is not evidence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: That is the "name and shame" Bill. We aim to have it by the end of the year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: Yes, certainly. Much of what Deputy Healy-Rae says is right of course. I agree. There is speeding on the roads; he is right. There are holes and dangerous black spots; he is right but there is also alcohol on the roads. Alcohol is dangerous. It impairs. That is not an opinion. That is a scientifically proven fact. I accept what he says about speed, about there being dangers on our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: This is an attempt to save lives in rural Ireland. The Deputy cannot contest scientific facts: 80% of the fatalities referred to occur in rural Ireland, including in his own county. Let us recognise that alcohol is damaging and an impairment to driving. That is the first step he must take to recognise this problem. He must also recognise that a very small amount of alcohol is an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: Some of the figures.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty - Drink Driving) Bill 2017: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: They are based on Medical Bureau of Road Safety figures, RSA figures – I hate repeating myself - and World Health Organization figures. They are based on absolutely impeccable organisations of that sort, which are producing these figures. It is absolutely incontrovertible - I am repeating myself – that alcohol impairs people. In the 38% figure which I have given - and the...