Written Answers to Questions - Northern Ireland Assembly

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