Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress to date in introducing mandatory breath or blood testing at the scene of road traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9745/08]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Transport the status of the proposed legislation for the mandatory blood testing of all drivers involved in accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9613/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 69 together.

Following representations received from various bodies, my Department has consulted the Office of the Attorney General on the amendment of current legislation to achieve compulsory roadside testing for intoxicants of drivers involved in collisions.

The current position is that a member of An Garda Síochána may require a driver involved in a collision to provide a preliminary breath specimen. This discretion is provided in acknowledgement of the fact that urgent medical attention for seriously injured victims must take precedence over breath testing.

The Attorney General has now advised on possible amendments to legislation, which continue to take overriding medical circumstances into account. This issue will be included in the next Road Traffic Bill, which I hope to bring to Government later this year.