Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is an attempt to save lives in rural Ireland. The Deputy cannot contest scientific facts: 80% of the fatalities referred to occur in rural Ireland, including in his own county. Let us recognise that alcohol is damaging and an impairment to driving. That is the first step he must take to recognise this problem. He must also recognise that a very small amount of alcohol is an impairment to driving. It does have inconveniences. It is an obstacle to other activities. I accept that but it saves lives. This measure will save lives in rural Ireland principally. That should be recognised. If there are any difficulties for the fabric of rural Ireland, which the Deputy represents so successfully here, let us look at measures to remedy them. Let us look at measures which help people get to the pubs and home in different ways but not to drive there if they are going to drink excessively. Nobody is disputing that a tiny amount of alcohol impairs driving. I would like to see a compromise whereby the Deputy says he accepts that and measures will be taken by the community or others to see that people still get to their pubs, their communities and their social life and get home safely. These things are not irreconcilable.

The idea that I could give them a blanket three points, which is the same as they would get for driving over a white line in the middle of the road, when their driving is impaired is totally unacceptable to me. I do not wish to change rural life in Ireland in any way by doing this but I do want to see that the Deputy's constituents, as well as constituents from Donegal to Kerry to west Cork and elsewhere, are protected from people who are driving under the influence. That is what I want to do. I want to send a message to them, quite straight, that if they do this they will be disqualified for a minimum of three months. That is all because that is what applies to everybody else and I do not think the Deputy is fighting against that.

Let me deal with some of the other issues which arose. Most of them were to do with the-----