Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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699. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason section 10 of the Road Traffic Act 2014 was not included in the commencement order SI 147 of 2014 recently signed by him; when he expects to be in a position to commence section 10 and the remaining sections; and the actions that need to be taken to commence the remaining provisions of the 2014 Act. [16088/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am keen to see all sections of the Road Traffic Act 2014 commenced as quickly as possible. In the case of each of the sections which I have yet to commence, there is a certain amount of preparatory work to be done before they can be brought into effect.  I am therefore not in a position at the present time to specify a date on which these remaining sections will be commenced. Section 10 makes numerous adjustments to the penalty points applied to existing offences and introduces new offences to the fixed charge notice/penalty points system. These changes and additions will require action by An Garda Síochána to update the PULSE system.  I intend to commence the section as soon as An Garda Síochána is ready to implement it.

Section 6 provides for learners to undertake a minimum amount of logged accompanied driving experience before the driving test.  Regulations are currently being drafted, and will be introduced in conjunction with this section. Once the regulations are ready, I intend to commence the section and introduce the regulations.

Sections 11, 12 and 13 are interconnected, and need to be commenced simultaneously. Guidelines for Garda members and medical practitioners on the taking of a specimen of blood from an incapacitated driver, in accordance with section 12, are currently in preparation.  Once these guidelines are finalised, I will commence these three sections.

My Department will continue to liaise with the agencies concerned to ensure the earliest possible commencement of the outstanding section of the Act.