• LATEST NEWS
  • Advice
  • MOTORING
  • WINTER HUB
  • YOUR HOME
  • Travel
  • AA Life
  • AA Jobs

All the latest news from AA Ireland on car, home, travel and life insurance

  • AA MEMBERSHIP
  • MOTOR
  • HOME INSURANCE
  • AA ROADWATCH
  • ROUTEPLANNER
  • HOTELS
  • WEATHER

Transport Minister signs emergency law in a bid to close legislative loophole

date-icon 23 Sep 2015  author-icon Posted by Linda Pototzki


Earlier this week the High Court ruled in favour of a man who was found to be drunk-driving due to a governance discrepancy of how his ticket was issued.

In the existing Road Traffic legislation breathalyser tickets are to be issued in both English and Irish languages. However, the ticket in question was dispensed short of the Irish version – highlighting a major ambiguity in administering the legislation which could potentially affect thousands of previous prosecutions.

Our Director of Consumer Affairs, Conor Faughnan featured on Newstalk’s The Pat Kenny Show yesterday and expressed his views on the matter:

“This has happened before. You may remember earlier this year where certain soft drugs were decriminalised in Ireland for a period of 24 hours because of a legislative flaw – I hope that is all this is. Because it would be an absolute triumph of the law over justice if this nonsense was allowed to stand.”

In response to this, the Department of Transport Minister, Paschal Donoghue has signed for an emergency law in an effort to close this loophole which now provides for breathalyser tests to be presented in either English or Irish languages.

In a statement released today, Minister Donohue said:

“The advice of the attorney general’s office was sought in respect of the need for amending legislation on foot of the judgement in relation to the language of the forms produced by evidential breath testing machines in Garda [police] stations.

“In the interests of road safety, I have moved immediately to provide the new legislation deemed necessary regarding the form of the statements to be provided under section 13 of the Road Traffic Act 2010.”

Click here to listen to Conor’s full interview on The Pat Kenny Show where he also discussed the recent Volkswagen emissions scandal and windscreen discs.

Written by Linda Pototzki


Related Posts


13% have travelled with over-the-limit driver within last year
December 17, 2012
Irish motorists strongly in favor of reduction in drink driving limit, says AA
October 26, 2011
20% have travelled with drunk driver within last two years
August 26, 2011


  • SEARCH ARTICLES

  • New

    • Easter 2021 Public Transport Arrangements
      April 1, 2021
    • AA Ireland gets behind 'Slow Down Day' 2021
      March 25, 2021
    • Driving Test Delays Affecting 29% Of Irish Households
      March 25, 2021
    • What To Consider When Buying Van Insurance
      March 16, 2021
    • Navigating surface water and flooding: The AA Roadwatch...
      March 12, 2021

  • Bad Authentication data.

    followers

    1,190

    fans
    Subscribe
    To RSS Feed
  • Find us on Facebook




Copyright The AA (Ireland) 2020