Is the Minister aware that prosecutions for drunken driving have been bedevilled in recent times by technicalities on the issue of summonses, particularly during the current year and last year, as a result of signing difficulties by District Court clerks and computer problems, and that many hundreds of these cases are now being dismissed or cannot be dealt with? Does he have any proposals to simplify the procedures in order to get around these technicalities?

I do not have proposals to simplify the procedures because they are not very complicated as, I think, the Deputy will agree. What I am anxious to do is to ensure that those involved observe the procedures, relatively uncomplicated as they are.

Is the Minister aware of the number of High Court decisions which are at present under appeal to the Supreme Court dealing with the procedures on the issues of summonses which are relatively complicated when the procedures involving complaints and issue of summonses, dates and District Court clerks are taken into account? They are complicated enough to become the subject of High Court and Supreme Court decisions. At present the system is not working, certainly in the greater Dublin area. All these are in a state of abeyance and will clog up the system for a long time even after the situation is resolved in the Supreme Court. Does the Minister not regard it as an emergency that would warrant bringing in a quick amending Bill to resolve these technicalities so that the procedures can get moving again and these things can be dealt with?

As I said, I do not regard the procedings as being particularly complicated. I think it essential however that those involved operate them properly. I am sure the Deputy will agree with me when I suggest that a complicated procedure is not necessarily needed to give rise to litigation in the High Court.