Drink-driving measure - An IT fiasco too far, minister

THE credibility of the Government, the gardaí, the justice system, all our high-minded campaigns against drink driving and the process through which we organise our society have all endured another unwarranted, unnecessary humiliation.

A sensible piece of drink-driving legislation introduced two years ago with the usual self-congratulation and promises of unflinching application has not been implemented. All the good intentions have not made one whit of difference to the death toll on our roads or the running of our courts. Neither has it made a whit of difference to the careers of those who introduced a measure that had no prospect of success because the state’s infrastructure could not support the legislation.

Section 5 of the Road Traffic Act 2006, signed into law in July, 2006, by the then transport minister, Martin Cullen, was designed to free up the courts by allowing some drivers who committed minor drink-driving offences to avoid court by accepting a 300 fine and six-month disqualification.