Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It has been a very interesting discussion. The facts and figures are open to interpretation. The witnesses stated anecdotally that in rural areas like the one I come from there is less traffic on the roads at night. Years ago the traffic at night was coming from and going to the pubs but now there is more traffic in the mornings. Approximately six months ago I left a dinner dance in Carrick-on-Shannon and drove to Castlerea, over 20 miles, through two villages and past seven or eight pubs. I left at midnight on a Saturday and met no car coming towards me. That tells me that fewer people are going to pubs in rural areas.

We need to use more imagination. Gardaí are a very valuable resource but they should be out stopping crime. We need to use modern technology such as the speed vans which have helped gardaí ensure that many people comply with the speed limits. People complained that small Garda stations were being closed but to me that made sense because I would prefer to see a garda in a car than sitting in a station. There was a lot of political brouhaha about that. We have heard about Garda cars being fitted with technology to recognise the licence plates of people who do not have a licence or insurance. Is there anything modern technology can do to address this problem, for example, that a person cannot start their car if they have alcohol on board? Cars now are almost like airplanes. Are the witnesses aware of anything coming down the line that will help ensure people do not drink and drive?