DRINK-DRIVE BREATH TEST MACHINES TO BE DUMPED; 2-year wait for new instruments.Byline: PAT FLANAGAN John Patrick "Pat" Flanagan (born 1891 in Preston, Lancashire) was an English footballer. An inside forward, Flanagan played youth football for Stourbridge before joining Norwich City in 1908, before moving to Fulham in 1909. EVERY breathalyser in the country is to be dumped - delaying a drink-drive crackdown until 2011. Transport Minister Noel Dempsey Noel Dempsey (Irish: Nollaig Ó Díomasaigh; born 6 January, 1953) is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála (TD) for Meath West and Minister for Transport & the Marine. yesterday confirmed that new machines, which will cost EUR EUR In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Euro. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 800,000, for the new lower legal limit will not be available for almost two years. The 64 machines currently in use can't be trusted to deliver accurate results at the lower level as its feared the State could be sued by suspected drink-drivers. Fine Gael's road safety spokesman Shane McEntee said Mr Dempsey should have checked the existing equipment was in place before bringing in the new Bill. He added: "Mr Dempsey has failed his own breathalyser test. It beggars belief that neither he, nor anyone in his Government, thought to estimate the cost." Yesterday the Medical Bureau of Road Safety confirmed it is to replace the existing machines with ones capable of reading the new 50 and 20 milligram milligram /mil·li·gram/ (mg) (mil´i-gram) one thousandth (10-3) of a gram. mil·li·gram n. Abbr. mg A metric unit of mass equal to one thousandth (10-3) of a gram. limits. Spokesman Denis Cusack said the equipment now being used was 10 years old and needed to be replaced. He added: "It would have taken eight to 10 months to re-calibrate the present instruments and they would then have to be replaced in probably two to three years. "This way, we go for a new generation of instruments. It takes a few months longer but by the time the Act is passed next summer a lot of work will have already been done and the installation of the instruments will start the following summer." Mr Dempsey said the new machines must be foolproof because of the legal cases being taken by those prosecuted under road traffic laws. His spokesman added: "It is crucial to ensure the operation of the analysis machinery is robust. "Due to the litigious litigious adj. referring to a person who constantly brings or prolongs legal actions, particularly when the legal maneuvers are unnecessary or unfounded. Such persons often enjoy legal battles, controversy, the courtroom, the spotlight, use the courts to punish nature of road traffic law in Ireland, it is vital new equipment and procedures are watertight." A spokesman for AA Ireland said the delay was to be expected. He added: "In road safety when there's a substantial change to traffic law there's more to it than just passing the legislation." The new Road Traffic Bill proposes a reduction in the blood alcohol level from 80mgs to 50mgs per 100ml. CAPTION(S): OBSOLETE Old breathalyser |
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