Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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121. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he or his officials met the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in 2018 to discuss drink driving legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3473/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that my officials meet with officials from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport on an ongoing basis, in a number of different fora, in relation to road traffic matters.

The overarching road traffic policy structure is the Ministerial Committee on Road Safety, the function of which is to oversee the implementation of the Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020 and provide a forum for high-level discussion of road safety issues. 

The Committee is chaired by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and attended by myself (or officials from my Department), the Attorney General, CEO of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), the Garda Commissioner (or a senior representative) and officials from other relevant bodies.

The Committee has met on 18 occasions to date under the current Road Safety Strategy, and is scheduled to meet next on 5 March 2019. Traditionally, the Committee had met twice a year, however the Committee met 6 times in 2017 and 4 times in 2018.

The Committee primarily focusses on matters relating to public awareness around road safety and associated media campaigns. Garda road traffic enforcement and issues relating to drink driving are discussed in the context of these matters.