Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister brought foward this Bill nearly a month ago and I was probably the first politician who said it could be seen as anti-rural. I also said any measure that reduced the number of deaths on the roads was very welcome. I pointed out that in the Minister's constituency of Dublin South one could hail a taxi, take a bus or walk to the pub. In the town in which I live I cannot avail of public transport. I highlighted the fact that the legislation could be seen as anti-rural. Many people have a difficulty with it.

I was a member of the Vintners Federation of Ireland 20 years ago before I got involved in politics. I did not agree with many of its policies, but the federation represents a lobby group and is a vested interest. The Minister mentioned it twice. Sometimes people attack bankers and vintners, but it is unfair that the federation has been attacked twice. It is a lobby group and does its best to be proactive and measured in difficult circumstances. It is fully aware that drink driving is most unwelcome. The committee has had representatives of the RSA and many other groups and the Minister appear before it. The Vintners Federation of Ireland has asked to appear before it and I believe its representatives should be invited to the meeting next week to give their side of the story. Legislation is great, but legislation that is rushed or not seen to take account of all sides of an argument is bad. The federation appears to think some of the figures being bandied about are wrong. We should, therefore, give it the opportunity to correct the relevant figures. I do not know what the figures are, but it has an issue with the ones released by the Department.

In referring to what good the Bill would do the Minister asked if it would be worth it if we could prevent 35 deaths in the next five years. Yes, it absolutely would be worth it. I remind members that we introduced an air ambulance service in Roscommon and Athlone three or four years ago and it has saved 500 lives. However, it was not contentious. Anything that can be done to reduce the number of deaths on the roads is very welcome.

A total of 81% of alcohol-related road deaths occur in rural Ireland. Most people who drink and drive are driving in rural Ireland because they do not have public transport. I am certainly not condoning it but the figures are balanced in such a way that it is urban against rural. If I was coming from rural Ireland or was a politician from rural Ireland, I would ask myself what is going on. We are getting into the wrong situation regarding the figures.

I want to put on the record my belief that anything that can be done to reduce road deaths and deaths from drink-driving must be supported but we must ensure that all sides, regardless of whether we agree with them, are afforded the opportunity to put across their points of view. If we do not agree with them and they do not stack up, that is fine. I said it would be contentious. I believe the Minister is acting in good faith to try to reduce road deaths but we need to look at all sides and ask all sides for their views. The vintners are a vested interest group, as are the IFA, the IPU and many other groups, so we should not denigrate them and say "ah, well, why wouldn't they?". The vintners have the same thoughts and views as most politicians and people in the Department. They know that drink-driving is wrong and are doing as much as they can. Perhaps they could have done more over the years but an awful lot has changed in the past ten years. I will get no thanks for protecting the vintners but sometimes in politics, we need to look at both sides of the argument to ensure all sides are heard.