Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

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Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers a revised management regime for Strangford Lough to allow a level of pot fishing to continue while meeting the obligations under Habitats Directive were discussed, including various ways to achieve this. I, of course, am available to meet and have done so previously. Reducing Litter Levels Mr Lyttle asked the Minister of the Environment what action the Northern Ireland Environment Agency is taking to reduce the level of litter and anti-social behaviour at Struell Wells, Downpatrick. (AQW 12994/11-15) Mr Attwood: Whilst NIEA can take corrective action, the litter is left by the public and it is their irresponsible behaviour which creates the problem. NIEA will seek to increase the frequency of site patrols at Struell Wells and is reviewing the access arrangements at this monument to discourage anti-social behaviour. NIEA encourages the visiting public to behave responsibly at all its properties and supports the Leave No Trace campaign. Litter and Anti-Social Behaviour in Inch Abbey Mr Lyttle asked the Minister of the Environment what action the Northern Ireland Environment Agency is taking to reduce the level of litter and anti-social behaviour at Inch Abbey, Downpatrick. (AQW 12995/11-15) Mr Attwood: Whilst NIEA can take corrective action, the litter is left by the public and it is their irresponsible behaviour which creates the problem. NIEA will seek to increase the frequency of site patrols at Inch Abbey and is reviewing the access arrangements at this monument to discourage antisocial behaviour. NIEA encourages the visiting public to behave responsibly at all its properties and supports the Leave No Trace campaign. Drug Driving Mr Weir asked the Minister of the Environment what discussions he has held with the UK Government to ensure that legislation and penalties for drug-driving are consistent across the United Kingdom. (AQW 13007/11-15) Mr Attwood: Legislation here is broadly in line with Britain and it is currently illegal to drive whilst impaired through drink or drugs. However, that legislation requires the police and courts to both prove the presence of the intoxicant and also demonstrate impairment in each case before a driver could be prosecuted. The legislation in Ireland is similar, with prosecution depending on proof of impairment. New British legislation is being progressed to make driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle with concentration of specified controlled drug above specified limit an offence without a need to prove impairment, bringing drug driving into line with drink driving in this regard. As you might be aware this legislation, consideration of which is included in our Road Safety Strategy, is currently progressing through the House of Lords. The legislation as drafted would mean that a person would be committing an offence simply by having a specified level of a specified drug in their body. It identifies that both the drugs and the relevant limits would be specified by regulation and includes the option for any specified limit to be zero. Offenders could face a ban of at least 12 months, a fine of up to £5,000 and up to 51 weeks in jail (6 months in Scotland) for driving with specified drugs in the body in excess of specified limits. A scientific review panel is considering the scientific underpinning for the new law, assessing the effects on driving of different drugs. The drugs ultimately specified by the offence and the specified WA 524
Friday 20 July 2012 Written Answers limits for each will be decided when advice has been received from the panel, expected in October, and on foot of public consultation planned for early in 2013. Police are to be equipped with handheld detection devices to test saliva at the roadside. I understand that five devices are being considered by the Home Office, which is expected to give approval by the end of the year. PSNI has a commitment in the Road Safety Strategy to ‘investigate new technologies and legislative powers to better detect and collect evidence from drivers suspected of being impaired through drugs; including both illicit and prescription drugs’. Under the new legislation, failure of a roadside test would result in a driver being arrested for drug driving. A further new piece of equipment in the station would provide the evidential test, based on which, as appropriate, the driver would be prosecuted. DOE officials have been liaising with the Department for Transport on the ongoing work, are monitoring the progress of the draft legislation and await the outcome of the work of the scientific panel and on the necessary testing equipment. My Department has also maintained contacts on this issue with the Road Safety Authority and I understand that the pursuit of similar legislation will also be a priority in Ireland, possibly being introduced in 2013. Drink driving in Northern Ireland is responsible for more road traffic collisions, fatalities and casualties than drug driving. Between 2006 -2010, the most recent published statistics, there were seventy-seven deaths and serious injuries due to drink driving and eight due to drug driving. Seven fatalities were caused by drink / drug driving (I cannot identify drink and drugs fatalities separately due to disclosure control applied to protect identities). Legislation to tackle drink driving including reductions in the limit will be introduced to the Assembly in a Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill before the end of the year. With respect to the introduction of new drug driving laws here, the timing will be dependent on the Department for Transport delivering on the ongoing work, including the scientific underpinning, indicative legislation and testing equipment. Consultation will also be required on the proposals. I plan to bring forward a further Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill in 2013 to introduce mutual recognition of penalty points and I would envisage new drug drive legislation being part of that Bill. Rental Payments by Councils to the Crown Estate Mr Agnew asked the Minister of the Environment what assessment he has made of the proposals by the Scottish Committee in Westminster regarding rental payments by councils to the Crown Estate, and whether he intends to take any action on this issue. (AQW 13027/11-15) Mr Attwood: I am aware of the Scottish Government report and shall review it. I believe in maximising the powers and potential of devolution and that extends to the issue of Crown Estates. I intend outlining my further views by the late summer. Staff Disciplinary Procedures Mr Agnew asked the Minister of the Environment on how many occasions formal staff disciplinary procedures have been carried out by each council, in each of the last five years. (AQW 13028/11-15) Mr Attwood: The number of occasions formal staff disciplinary procedures have been enacted within the 26 District Councils in the last five years are detailed in the table below. Council 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Antrim 18 7 5 3 0 Ards 15 16 18 19 5 Armagh 6 10 20 13 7 WA 525
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Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

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