The new drink-driving limits will not be introduced before mid-2011 because the equipment used to test breath samples from drivers must be replaced.
Evidential breath-testing (EBT) machines used in Garda stations to measure the alcohol in a driver’s breath cannot be recalibrated to the 20mg limit proposed for inexperienced and professional drivers in the Road Traffic Bill 2009, published last week.
The Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS), which has responsibility for providing and monitoring this equipment, decided at a board meeting yesterday to replace the 64 EBT machines with systems that can test for both the proposed general new limit of 50mg and 20mg.
The bureau estimates it will be the middle of 2011 at the earliest before the new machines can be purchased, tested and installed in Garda stations, even though the Minister for Transport intends for the Bill to be passed by the middle of next year.
In a statement this morning the Department of Transport said: “due to the highly litiguous nature of road traffic law in Ireland, it is vital to ensure that the new equipment and procedures are watertight.”
Shane McEntee, Fine Gael spokesman on road safety, said it appeared the reference to co-ordinating the lower alcohol levels with Northern Ireland was smokescreen.
"It’s now clear that Brian Cowen was simply trying to kick the matter to touch by involving Stormont. In political terms, this whole affair has been a fiasco from start to finish.”
At the request of the Garda, the number of machines in use is also to rise to 86. The 1,000 handheld roadside screening devices used by gardaí at mandatory alcohol checkpoints can be recalibrated to read the new lower limits.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey was informed of the bureau’s decision last night. It is understood the new equipment will cost an estimated €800,000 and that this funding is in place.
Consideration was given to the phased introduction of the new limits as the existing breath-testing equipment can read samples of 50mg. However, this option was rejected.
Under the Bill, not only will the MBRS have to provide equipment to read the new legal limits of 50mg and 20mg but also to measure alcohol concentrations that attract different penalties: 80mg, 100mg and 150mg.
It was also agreed last night the MBRS will from early next year start training gardaí in roadside impairment techniques to help determine if a driver is under the influence of drugs. This requires the driver to perform tasks requiring co-ordination. Gardaí will also be trained to recognise physiological signs such as pupil dilation.
Mr Dempsey has faced strong opposition to the proposed new limits from about 20 Fianna Fáil backbenchers, a number of Independent TDs and the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland. Waterford Fine Gael TD John Deasy has also called on the party to oppose the drink-drive limits contained in the Road Traffic Bill, despite support for the Bill from Enda Kenny.
The new equipment will require a minimum of six months’ testing to ensure it meets legal, constitutional, forensic and scientific requirements.
