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PARC meets with Dempsey today
27.02.08
INISHOWEN-based Public
Against Road Carnage (PARC) will meet the Minister
for Transport, Noel Dempsey, in the Dáil this
morning.
PARC wants to find out what progress has been made
on the Minister’s promise to introduce compulsory
testing of all drivers - either at the scene or
later in hospital - at all crash scenes attended by
the Gardaí. |
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PARC founder Susan Gray
explained the reasons behind today's meeting: "We
are now very concerned that the Government is
already rowing back on this by announcing recently
that legislation will only be provided for the
testing of drivers involved in serious collisions.
This is not acceptable. It is totally useless,
meaningless and ambiguous."
Culdaff-based Ms. Gray said all drivers must be
tested if Ireland is to "have a fair and just
system".
"We understand that there may be circumstances where
a breath test cannot be carried out at the scene due
to the serious injuries sustained. In these
circumstances we expect the decision to be left to
the trained medical personnel attending |
scene whether a
roadside preliminary breath test can be carried out
or not.
"In circumstances where it cannot, the Garda must
request a sample of blood or urine when the injured
driver is taken to hospital. This sample can then be
tested for intoxicants including drugs. The only
acceptable reason for not carrying out a test would
be, in circumstances where the medical personnel at
the hospital refuse on grounds that it would
represent an imminent threat to the health of an
individual," added Ms. Gray.
She appealed for as much support as possible outside
the Dáil at 11am following the 10am meeting with the
Minister. "Any families who have been affected by
road tragedies are welcome to attend," she said. |
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