Some foreign nationals in Ireland are drinking heavily at weekends and getting involved in fatal road accidents, Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy said today.
Mr Conroy also told the Oireachtas Transport Committee that gardaí were powerless to seize uninsured and untaxed cars registered outside Ireland. The Commissioner was today briefing the all-party body on road safety and traffic law enforcement.
Committee chairman John Ellis said to Mr Conroy: "Since Christmas we've had quite a number of non-nationals who have been killed on our roads."
Mr Conroy said: "We note, particularly at weekends, that we have a major problem in that area. Some of the residents from those countries apparently drink quite a lot of alcohol at weekends."
He referred to a recent accident involving foreign nationals in which three people were killed.
"We know that prior to that accident taking place there was a lot of alcohol consumed in a private house," he said.
"We're finding more and more difficulties in that area of dealing with non-nationals. Certain countries are causing us more problems than others."
Mr Ellis also said that public representatives were getting continuous complaints about foreign nationals driving cars that are neither taxed or insured or don't conform to the NCT regulations here. He said that a favourite trick of the drivers was to say they don't speak English.
"When they're on the building site the next morning they have the best of English if the foreman and themselves come to grips over something," he said.
"This is a major problem up and down the country."
Mr Conroy who appeared at the Committee with Traffic Corps chief, Asst Commissioner Eddie Rock, said gardaí seize 10,000 vehicles every year if they have no insurance or if tax has expired by three months or more.
He said a loophole existed in the law if offenders were not Irish residents.
"Because they're not, we cannot seize their car, even though they may not be taxed or insured. That problem is there," he said.
He told the Committee he had raised the matter with Justice Minister and he may do something in the near future.
Mr Ellis said: "This is a serious problem but we can see where your hands are tied on this. As a Committee we should look at legislation drafted as soon as possible to allow you the power to seize any vehicle that doesn't conform to the road standards."
He also called for action on car auctions selling cars to people who drive them out of the auctions without tax or insurance.
Labour transport spokesperson Roisin Shorthall called for drink-driving checkpoints outside pub car parks.
"The majority of these people have not been drinking lemonade," she said.
PA