Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Transport when the new Road Traffic Bill will be published; the reason there is a continuing delay with the introduction of this legislation; the role the Minister of State with special responsibility for road safety has had in preparing this new legislation; the key measures contained in the Bill; if there will be a provision for mandatory testing of all drivers involved in a serious road collision. [13690/09]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Transport his decision on whether to change the legal blood alcohol level for drivers; when he will introduce the necessary legislation; the level to which he plans to reduce the BAC; if he plans to introduce a different lower BAC level for learner and professional drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13691/09]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 59 together.

The text of the Road Traffic Bill, which, inter alia, proposes a reduction in the legal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level for drivers and measures for the mandatory testing for alcohol of drivers involved in road traffic collisions, is currently being drafted and is nearing completion. Government approval will then be sought for publication of the Bill. The Road Traffic Acts already provide that a member of An Garda Síochána may test a driver involved in a road traffic collision for alcohol. The Acts also provide for the testing of drivers in relation to drugs. A member of An Garda Síochána, if of the opinion that a driver is under the influence of a drug or drugs to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the vehicle, may require that person to go to a Garda station and further require that person to submit to a blood test or to provide a urine sample.

There is as yet no reliable system of preliminary roadside testing for drugs, but the Medical Bureau of Road Safety is keeping abreast of developments in this area. In the meantime, the draft Road Traffic Bill includes provisions for "field impairment testing" i.e. non-technological methods by which the Gardaí can make a preliminary assessment about the possible presence of drugs. Another key provision in the draft Bill is a reduction in the blood alcohol content (BAC) level for drivers, and this takes account of the recommendation and proposed levels made by the Road Safety Authority last year.

In response to the question on my role, I have responsibility for the road safety functions within the Department, which includes the Road Traffic Acts, corporate governance of the Road Safety Authority and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, and the making of secondary legislation on issues such as driver testing and licensing, vehicle standards and the regulation of traffic. I have been closely involved in all stages of the preparation of the draft Road Traffic Bill.