Court proceedings against a former TD who is accused of drug driving have been adjourned until next month.
Colm Keaveney had been charged with driving with cocaine in his system, contrary to the Road Traffic Act.
The offence is alleged to have occurred at Cummer in Tuam, Co Galway on 12 June 2023.
When the case came before Judge James Faughnan at Tuam District Court this afternoon, Mr Keaveney's solicitor said he wanted to canvass a number of issues relating to the testing of a blood sample with the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS).
Gearóid Geraghty said a sample, provided by his client, had been analysed for alcohol on 16 June 2023.
It was found to contain no trace of alcohol.
The same sample was subsequently analysed for the presence of other drugs.
This involved a two-stage process which began on 3 July and was completed on 4 August 2023.
That revealed the presence of benzoylecgonine, commonly known as cocaine.
Inspector Adrian Queeney told the court that the MBRS carries out testing in batches, to ensure all samples are analysed and processed in as timely a fashion as possible.
He said the two-stage testing process was international best practice and that the specimen would have been secure at all times.
He told Judge Faughnan that the analytical process was completed as soon as was practicable.
Mr Geraghty said his concerns centred around the fact that the testing that revealed the presence of cocaine had been carried out on a blood sample that had already been opened by the time the process commenced.
It was therefore not a sealed sample.
He also wishes to clarify why the blood was first tested for alcohol and if this delayed the subsequent analysis for other drugs.
Mr Keaveney was arrested at a multi-agency checkpoint near Tuam on 12 June 2023.
Another charge of driving without insurance, alleged to have occurred on the same date, was brought against him today.
Both charges will be heard at the District Court next month, when a representative from the MBRS is expected to be called to respond to the defence legal team.
Colm Keaveney was elected as a Labour Party TD for Galway East in 2011 but subsequently left the party and joined Fianna Fáil.
He lost his Dail seat in 2016 and went on to serve on Galway County Council.
He no longer holds elected office.
