Not one driver has been prosecuted under a law introduced last May to target motorists who text while behind the wheel, according to the Irish Times.

The law was introduced by Leo Varadkar, who was the Transport Minister at the time, in order to close a loophole which meant drivers could escape fines and penalties if they were found texting.

Garda whistleblower, John Wilson, spoke Lunchtime with Jonathan Healy about the law today and stated: "It's very difficult for a garda to detect somebody texting while driving.

"We have an epidemic of mobile phone use in this country at present.

"I rate mobile phone use equally as serious as speeding."

He went on to say that: "if a garda suspects an individual of using a mobile phone or texting while driving, he/she should have the power to seize that mobile phone and take it away for analysis.

"I don't want to see a situation where the phone is taken and not returned for a month."