Statement from Marian Harkin MEP
Members of the European Parliament Marian Harkin and Jim Higgins organised a press conference in Dublin on Thursday, March 22nd for PARC (Public Against Road Carnage) the organisation, which is seeking legislation to allow for compulsory testing of all driver involved in road accidents.
PARC was founded by Susan Gray of Inishowen, Co. Donegal and the organisation has collected 40,0000 signatures from people throughout Ireland in support of the campaign for compulsory breath and blood testing.
Commenting on the campaign Independent MEP Marian Harkin said that it was extraordinary that while the Gardai supported the principle of compulsory testing the Government to date were dodging the issue with the nonsensical excuse that constitutional issues were involved.
"There were supposed to be constitutional issues preventing random breath testing but this obstacle disappeared when subjected to scrutiny and this would also happen in the case of compulsory testing of drivers involved in accidents', she said.
There was a major deficit in the numbers of breathalysers and intoxilysers throughout the country and a huge number inoperable because of the failure of the calibration service to operate efficiently, she said. "The Government must face up to it's responsibility in this matter and immediately act to ensure that immediate compulsory testing of drivers involved in road accidents is introduced", Marian Harkin MEP said.
Members of the European Parliament Marian Harkin and Jim Higgins organised a press conference in Dublin on Thursday, March 22nd for PARC (Public Against Road Carnage) the organisation, which is seeking legislation to allow for compulsory testing of all driver involved in road accidents.
PARC was founded by Susan Gray of Inishowen, Co. Donegal and the organisation has collected 40,0000 signatures from people throughout Ireland in support of the campaign for compulsory breath and blood testing.
Commenting on the campaign Independent MEP Marian Harkin said that it was extraordinary that while the Gardai supported the principle of compulsory testing the Government to date were dodging the issue with the nonsensical excuse that constitutional issues were involved.
"There were supposed to be constitutional issues preventing random breath testing but this obstacle disappeared when subjected to scrutiny and this would also happen in the case of compulsory testing of drivers involved in accidents', she said.
There was a major deficit in the numbers of breathalysers and intoxilysers throughout the country and a huge number inoperable because of the failure of the calibration service to operate efficiently, she said. "The Government must face up to it's responsibility in this matter and immediately act to ensure that immediate compulsory testing of drivers involved in road accidents is introduced", Marian Harkin MEP said.
