Ms Moyagh Murdock:

We have always said we need more gardaí in the traffic corps. Today's debate is about the Bill. Drink driving is a big issue in this country and I accept many lives lost are at levels above 80 mg. Ms Burns already alluded to the fact that many of those issues are related to addiction and alcohol dependency. That is a big societal problem for Ireland. This is where it starts.

If we can stem the flow, especially in younger drivers, as new drivers are where the educational process starts. Just because new drivers have a licence after two years and they are now 19 or 20 does not make them experienced drivers and we consider it is a big issue that they think it is okay to have a bottle or two. If we tackle the 50 mg to 80 mg we remove the confusion and the temptation to have one or two drinks because people think they will be okay. A significant number of people are arrested who are at the level of 80 mg to 100 mg. A total of 400 people so far in 2016 were issued with six months' disqualification. We believe that the impact at this level will cascade across all levels. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae has left the room but I am sure he observes decision making in his own pub. When one takes a drink or two, one's decision making changes. One has heard the saying, "One for the ditch" and "Another one would not do any harm". We have to stop the lax approach and the propensity to drink and drive and it has to be at this level.