Minister’s plea to judiciary over drink drive legislation

THE judiciary was urged yesterday by Justice Minister Michael McDowell “not to make a federal issue” of proposed new legislation for random breath-testing of drink driving suspects.

Draft legislation on proposed new powers to allow gardaí conduct random breath-testing is expected before the Oireachtas in the current sitting.

Taoiseach Mr Ahern said this week the Attorney General’s advice was that random breath-testing was legal and constitutional. Thousands of drink driving cases, however, remain tied up before the courts on technicalities.