Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the Road Traffic Bill will be published; if he will outline the proposed heads of the Bill; if he will confirm that the new Bill will facilitate the introduction of preliminary drug driver testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45095/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Road Traffic Bill 2012 is currently being prepared in my Department and I expect to bring the General Scheme of the Bill to Government in the very near future.  Once the General Scheme is approved by Government, it is referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for formal drafting.  It is intended that the Bill will provide for amendments to a number of existing provisions such as the impairment testing of drivers under the 2010 Act, changes to the penalty points system and some Graduated Driving Licence provisions. In consideration of these matters, I have consulted with the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications over the past year and it is intended to incorporate their views to a large extent in the General Scheme. In relation to drug testing, I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 20, 24 and 43 today. I expect that the Bill will be ready for publication at the end of this year or very early in the New Year.