Drug-driving to be tested for from Easter, Minister says

Testing motorists for drug-driving will begin on the Easter bank holiday weekend, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has confirmed in the Dáil.

She told Fianna Fáil TD Jack Chambers that key stakeholders are being given a few months to prepare for the introduction of what will be called preliminary drug testing on motorists.

The Road Traffic Bill, passed in the Dáil and Seanad in December 2016, will be commenced or implemented at Easter in mid-April.

The legislation makes it illegal for motorists to drive while under the influence of cannabis, cocaine or heroin. It is also now an offence to drive while under the influence of the cannabis-containing drug Salvidex, used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

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Mandatory disqualification

Ms Fitzgerald said An Garda Síochána had also announced a 10 per cent increase in traffic corps gardaí this year. The road traffic legislation was being reviewed to ensure that “all drivers caught while drink driving will in future receive a mandatory disqualification”, she added.

Mr Chambers had asked during justice question time the number of drug-driving tests that had been carried out, the number of prosecutions and of convictions since the passage of the legislation before Christmas.

The Minister said she did not have a direct role in the enforcement of road traffic legislation but the Department of Transport was “working with key stakeholders to introduce the new roadside tests for drugs, which will be known as preliminary drug tests”.

“It is intended that the provisions will be commenced at the Easter bank holiday weekend. This will allow time for all stakeholders to prepare for introduction, and will provide a valuable opportunity to highlight the dangers of drug driving over the bank holiday weekend.”

Mr Chambers said the Easter break was a time “when people engage in different types of behaviour, sometimes excessively”.

He said the Road Safety Authority should ratchet up its own campaign to raise public awareness that it would start.

Tested positive

The Dublin West TD pointed to a study by the Co Kildare coroner which showed that in 2014 more than 1,300 samples from drivers were analysed for drugs and 58 per cent of them tested positive. “Some 52 per cent were positive for two or more drugs.”

Ms Fitzgerald said An Garda Síochána intended to have a stronger focus on road traffic enforcement in the training provided to new recruits at Templemore.

Earlier, Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Jim O'Callaghan highlighted the case of Brian Regan who was knocked down and killed in December 2015. His father, James Regan, believed his son had been drinking late into the night in a licensed premises that was serving alcohol after closing time. Mr O'Callaghan said personal responsibility was an issue but Mr Regan was asking for the licensing laws to be enforced.

Ms Fitzgerald paid tribute to Mr Regan for promoting the issue after such personal tragedy. “We need to get on with the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and continue the Road Safety Authority campaigns,” she said.