Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and his officials. It is very welcome that there is a renewed focus on road safety. It is regrettable that last year saw an increase in the number of fatalities. Behind every statistic is a devastated family that we must remember. This is one area where we can genuinely work together in a non-partisan way in bringing forward evidence-based policies that will help reduce the number of fatalities on our roads. Every one of us here wants to see a reduction in the number of road deaths. We need to see evidence-based policies.

I share the Minister's concern regarding drink-driving. I do not drive after having any drink but I do feel there is a difference between someone who has a glass of wine with his or her meal and then drives a car and somebody who has a bottle of wine and then drives his or her car. Regarding the 38% of people who lost their lives between 2008 and 2012 and were deemed to have drink in their systems, is that quantifiable in terms of the units of alcohol in their bodies? Were these people who, as I said, had a glass of wine with their meals or were they people who were significantly over the legal limit and driving? It is understandable if the Minister does not have that information to hand today, but we need to see it before he brings forward the legislation he proposes for later this year.