The government has admitted it will miss the June 2009 deadline for the introduction of a new lower drink-driving limit, reports the Irish Times.

Briefing documents prepared for the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Noel Ahern, and released to the Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act, state that it is “likely to be late 2009/early 2010” before the new limits become operational. June 2009 was set as the date for the introduction of the new limit by the Government’s Road Safety Strategy, coinciding with local and European elections.

However, it is possible that it will be further delayed, as a spokeswoman for the Department has said the outline Road Traffic Bill 2008 will not now be ready until the autumn, at which point it will need to be considered by Cabinet….

Tommy Broughan, Labour Party transport spokesman, said lower drink drive limits were a “very hot political issue, particularly for rural TDs, and that the rural transport scheme was not adequate. The article continues, outlining that until the government approves the new Road Traffic Bill, the existing testing equipment cannot be replaced. The new bill will also provide for compulsory testing of drivers involved in crashes.

Irish Times