44 Mr. O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a statement on the pre-Christmas campaign to discourage drink driving; and if he will outline the further plans he has to permanently reduce the incidence of drink driving.

The road safety campaign which I launched on 27 September last will continue throughout 1991. A vital part of that campaign is the general action plan for increased Garda attention to traffic law enforcement which was announced by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, on 11 October last.

The special anti-drink and driving Christmas campaign mounted by the Garda Síochána was the most successful campaign of its type ever undertaken. I am pleased that drink and driving campaigns will continue in 1991 and that the Garda authorities intend to maintain a very high profile in this respect throughout the coming year.

I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Justice, that a total of almost 1,000 motorists face the prospect of prosecution for drink related offences during the month of December.

The success of the campaign will ultimately be measured by a sustained reduction in road accidents with fewer people being killed and injured. The figures in this regard which have emerged for the month of December last are an encouraging indication of what can be achieved.

I intend to bring forward legislative proposals later this year to amend and extend the law on drink-driving.