Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

We all need to take an evidence-based approach to this issue. I want to address a number of issues. A huge number of people want to be compliant but very often what they do not want is to be caught. A question commonly raised is about people who are caught the morning after who believe they are compliant but who may be taking medication or even used mouthwash. Zero may be the Minister's inclination but even mouthwash contains a degree of alcohol. The way we calculate blood-alcohol levels is important and I believe a piece of work needs to be done in terms of other substances that would have an influence on that.

I was interested to read the statistics in the draft general scheme on driver fatalities between 2008 and 2012 which show that in terms of a blood-alcohol level of between 21 mg and 50 mg, 19 people were killed and six seriously injured. That is 6.6%. However, the figures for the higher blood-alcohol level of between 51 mg and 80 mg show that the numbers actually reduce. I am not saying that the more drunk people get the more capable they are but that 21 mg to 50 mg figure is niggling me.