John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 546: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has examined the legal implications regarding the possible use of alcolocks here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1025/09]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 555: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the introduction of alcolocks here; if his Department have carried out an evaluation of the benefits of this technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1024/09]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take questions Nos. 546 and 555 together.

I have no proposals currently to legislate for the use of alcohol ignition interlocks (alcolocks) in vehicles. I am aware that they are in use in some countries, whether as a legal requirement or on a voluntary basis, but at an EU level there are no proposals for their general introduction. Countries differ in their approaches to the prevention of drink driving and to changing driver behaviour. In Ireland the focus is on strict anti-drink driving legislation, and appropriate penalties for infringements, combined with an emphasis on enforcement. The introduction of mandatory alcohol testing has been credited with a significant change in the attitude to drink driving in Ireland, which resulted in the lowest number of road fatalities on record last year.