Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister accepts the fact that for this legislation to be as effective as we want it to be, we need an increase. Does the Minister also accept that the perception exists among people that there is little or no chance of bumping into a Garda checkpoint? We can see this in the way the figures have started to creep up again. Many of these people take the risk of drink-driving. They know there is little or no chance of checkpoints. That is what I mean.

Bringing in legislation is one thing. However, it is deemed ineffective or does not go anywhere near reaching its target if the Garda does not have the manpower on the ground. That is common knowledge. To refuse to admit as much is foolish. It is common knowledge that people now know that there is little or no chance of bumping into a checkpoint on the road.