Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I move amendment No. 23:

In page 6, between lines 38 and 39, to insert the following:

"5.—Section 49 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) in subsection (2) by the substitution of "50" for "80",

(b) in subsection (3) by the substitution of "67" for "107",

(c) in subsection (4) by the substitution of "22" for "35",

(d) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (4):

"(4A) Subsections (2) to (4) shall apply to a person who is the holder of a learner permit as if the references therein to 50, 67 and 22 were references to 20, 27 and 9 respectively."."

This amendment relates to the blood alcohol limit for drivers. It proposes to bring Ireland into line with the majority of European countries in respect of the blood alcohol limits allowed. This country has a very serious problem with drink driving and there is a long way to go before the culture is changed. The Minister stated on Committee Stage that he believed we should follow a zero tolerance level in respect of alcohol and driving. That is all very well but this thinking must be put into effect in legislation. I am somewhat concerned about the approach adopted in recent times by the Minister and some of his Government colleagues. In an effort to deflect criticism the Minister is using the mantra of personal responsibility. I agree that everybody should take personal responsibility in respect of driving and many other aspects. However, Government is responsible for ensuring adequate detection rates.

In a comparison with most other European countries, Ireland fares abysmally when it comes to detection rates. The chances of being stopped and breathalysed are very slight. So long as a regime is in place that does not have a detection system on a par with the rest of Europe, people will continue to take chances. We know they are doing that and sadly, we saw carnage on our roads again last weekend, as there is all too frequently, particularly on weekend nights. The message has not got across.

It is known that when people are detected, the samples show they are not just one drink over the limit but rather are significantly over the limit. The Minister needs to take steps to ensure that the limit is reduced in line with the rest of Europe. Other countries have had successes and we should learn from what they have done. Is there something about Irish drivers that we can tolerate a level of 80 mg when others regard 50 mg as the appropriate limit? Research shows that the accident risk between 50 mg and 80 mg is quite significant in terms of response times and reaction to unforeseen circumstances. If the Minister is serious about clamping down on the issue of drink driving and if he is serious about changing that culture which desperately needs to be changed, he needs to introduce a new regime. Along with random breath testing, we need to have modern, progressive blood alcohol limits in line with the rest of Europe. For that reason I propose a reduction in the limits from 80 mg to 50 mg.

I refer to comments made by the Minister earlier in the year. I am concerned at his approach to road safety. He is very fond of issuing press statements, making announcements and flying kites. This is his opportunity to follow through on some of those ideas. I do not see the follow-through in this legislation. We have certainly waited long enough for this Bill. When challenged about the omissions from the Bill, the Minister takes the line that it must be looked at further. He was looking at it last year and this year it is the road safety authority who are looking at it. He now says there will be another Bill. It is always another year away before radical change is brought about.

The public is increasingly pointing the finger at those who have responsibility for the legislation and for the enforcement regime and on the huge inadequacies in both those systems.

This point was made by the European Union Transport Ministers. One Minister said it was because of a fear of losing votes in the case of coming down too hard. There is a general view among politicians and among European Transport Ministers that the public has moved on past where politicians are. The days of being afraid of incurring the wrath of publicans or any other vested interests should be long gone. The public is looking for leadership on this matter; the public wants to see an end to the increasing level of carnage over many years. This is an opportunity for the Minister to show leadership on the problem of drink driving and to reduce the limits.

I refer to the issue of zero tolerance which should be a zero drink limit for learner drivers. My amendment proposes a zero limit or a negligible limit for learner drivers. We are far too lax regarding the more than 400,000 learner drivers on the roads. They are predominantly young people who end up with their cars wrapped around trees while some lie injured on the side of the road, late on Friday and Saturday nights. There is an onus on all to move to end this situation and to bring about an enforcement system that actually means something. I suggest that as well as reducing the limit for all drivers down to the European norm, that the limit for provisional drivers should be reduced to 0.2 mg, in line with the rest of Europe. I urge the Minister to support this amendment.

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