Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is very sub-permanent. One never knows.

I do not think the Garda Síochána is a political football. This issue is too serious; that is why everybody is saying that we need more gardaí on this and we are all united about it and we have difficulties. It is harder to say it in government, because one actually has to do it. The Senator has identified something there. The Senator is absolutely right in that there is a bit of public relations involved and they do want to look good. It is part of sending out the message.

I am sure the Senator saw that powerful message on television around Christmas. The Garda Síochána quite obviously - I may be wrong, but I do not think so - notified RTE and said "Hey, we're going to be on this road doing these patrols at such and such a time. Come out and take photographs of us." RTE obliged and I have no problem with that. That is public relations at its best because it is doing a great public service.

It is sending out the message to the people who are thinking of drinking and driving that we are out there and we will catch them. That is welcome.

The Chairman is on to something with technology. There are all sorts of quite sophisticated devices still at the cutting edge stage. Hopefully, in future we will have a situation where people will not be able to get into a car if they have a couple of pints on them because the car will be immobilised. That is the sort of technological revolution we would like to see. I encourage anyone in my Department to get involved and find out about those particular devices. That would be wonderful. It would be fantastic if one has two pints and decides to drive but the car will not start because one has too much alcohol in one's system.