Written answers

Thursday, 5 November 2009

Department of Transport

Proposed Legislation

10:00 am

Photo of Jim O'KeeffeJim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Transport when the proposed new Road Traffic Bill will be published; the way this Bill will deal with drug driving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39517/09]

Photo of Tom HayesTom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals to improve the fixed charge processing system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39645/09]

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding the implementation of the Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012 including the rollout of the national speed camera programme, the closing of a series of loopholes in the penalty points system, the impact on road safety of the slashing of the advertising and campaign budgets for the Road Safety Authority and reduced general enforcement levels of road traffic law; if he will report on the proposed provisions of the new Road Traffic Bill; if the legislation includes provision for the mandatory testing of all drivers involved in road collisions, road side drug driving and a reduction in the general blood alcohol limit to 50 mg and to 20 mg for professional drivers; his views on the likely sanctions in the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39521/09]

Photo of Jim O'KeeffeJim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Transport the way the field impairment testing for drug driving, as proposed in the forthcoming Road Traffic Bill, will be implemented; the way this test will differentiate between prescribed medication and illegal substances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39518/09]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 28, 43 and 53 together.

I published the Road Traffic Bill 2009 on Friday 30 October 2009. It provides for the lowering of the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) from 80 mg of alcohol (per 100 ml of blood) to 20 mg for learner, novice and professional drivers, and from 80 mg of alcohol (per 100 ml of blood) to 50 mg for other drivers.

The Bill also provides for preliminary impairment testing to assist the Garda in forming an opinion that the driver is or is not under the influence of an intoxicant (drink or drugs). It also includes amendments to the fixed charge and penalty point systems, including the option of payment of a fixed charge on receipt of a summons for the offence.

The safety camera project and road traffic enforcement are matters for my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

While the RSA's advertising and campaign budgets were reduced for 2009, as a result of cuts imposed across all Departments and agencies, it will continue to implement its programme of road safety awareness, education and research.

In relation to the Road Safety Strategy, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 40.

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