Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 52: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on his meeting with Northern Ireland's Environment Minister at the North South Ministerial Council Meeting in terms of moves to harmonise blood alcohol levels for drink driving in the two jurisdictions; the position regarding his plans to harmonise driver disqualification laws and penalty points between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39522/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Road safety is a regular agenda item on meetings of the Transport Sector of North-South Ministerial Council, including blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels for intoxicated driving.

Both I and my Northern Ireland colleague Mr Edwin Poots agree that improving safety on our roads requires that BAC levels be reduced in each jurisdiction. I published my proposals for reduced BAC levels in the Road Traffic Bill last Friday. While in Northern Ireland no decision has as yet been made following their recent consultation process, it is clear that BAC levels will also be reduced in that jurisdiction.

We both agree on the importance of co-ordination on this and other road safety matters, and noted continuing cross-border co-operation on a number of issues of common interest.

On the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications, the meeting noted that the necessary formal Declarations have now been made to the EU by both Ireland and the UK, and the measures will take effect on 28 January 2010.

Both jurisdictions also have an interest in the mutual recognition of penalty points. This project will be pursued once the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications is in place, but it is a more complex and long term process likely to take a number of years.