Written answers

Thursday, 9 November 2017

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Road Safety

Photo of Séamus HealySéamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

233. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Medical Bureau of Road Safety formally informed his predecessor regarding a matter (details supplied); if not, the reason therefor; if the bureau has formally informed him since taking office; if he was not formally informed, the disciplinary action he will take in view of the fact that this omission may have led to a greater number of road deaths and injuries than might otherwise have occurred; if the former Minister was informed of the reason this process of fake breath tests was not immediately terminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47504/17]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

One of the statutory functions of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS), as laid down in the Road Traffic Acts 1968 –2016, is the approval, supply and testing of equipment or apparatus for indicating the presence of alcohol in the breath. The Bureau is not responsible for the administration of breath tests, the oversight of breath tests or the auditing of breath tests which is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána.

In the summer of 2014, the Director of the Bureau verbally informed my Department of his concerns in relation to the lack of demand from An Garda Síochána for the purchase of replacement mouthpieces for the roadside breath-alcohol screening devices in recent years. This was in the context of early discussions between my Department and the Bureau to identify Exchequer funding requirements for 2015. This matter was raised with An Garda Síochána during 2015 and 2016.

The full extent of the issues with the Garda Mandatory Alcohol Testing (MAT) statistics only became known to my Department as a result of the Garda announcement on this issue on 23rd March 2017.

As the role and functions of the MBRS are clearly set out in legislation and do not include operational oversight of An Garda Síochána, the question of disciplinary action does not arise.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.