Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

The Government has not accepted the recommendations. I am entitled to speak. The Government is not biting the bullet on this issue. We in Fine Gael accept that the Road Safety Authority's recommended reduction in the blood-alcohol content limit must be implemented. The Minister is on record as saying he would accept the recommendation but now he says the Government has neither accepted nor rejected it.

In the context of reducing penalties, there is legislation that allows the Minister to have reduced penalties for people with lower than 100 milligrams in blood-alcohol content but above 80 milligrams. The Minister has refused to introduce such a reduced penalty with a fixed fine and a ban of three months from driving, without the need for a court appearance. He is not facing the issue and is bound to pressure groups. He is not doing his job and is not making roads safer.

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