Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Transport the penalties imposed on a person found guilty of driving with levels of alcohol above the permitted levels in their system; if these penalties have changed recently; if there are plans to revise these penalties in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3348/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Automatic disqualification from driving applies to all drink driving convictions but the minimum period of disqualification varies depending on the alcohol levels in individual cases and on whether the conviction relates to a first or a subsequent offence. The current provisions are set out in Section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1995 and the financial penalties are set out in section 49 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 as amended.

The Road Traffic Act 2006 provides for the introduction of some changes in relation to the periods of disqualification and increases in the financial penalties and I will be commencing the relevant provisions shortly.