Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the funding he has committed to combating drug driving in 2008 and for 2009; the progress to date on increasing garda search powers in relation to drug crime. [36474/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Medical Bureau of Road Safety, which comes under the aegis of the Department of Transport, analyses blood and urine specimens received under the Road Traffic Acts for the presence of a drug or drugs. The Department of Transport provides annual funding to the Bureau.

The matter of increasing Garda search powers in relation to drug crime is under consideration in my Department, having regard to the sensitivity and complexity of the issues involved in any significant extension of search powers, including issues of constitutional importance.