Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

Any road safety measures introduced by the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, and the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, will get the full support of Fine Gael. I would like to comment on a distasteful report in a newspaper last Monday week. It seems that someone wanted to ascertain the response to the idea that drink drivers be given administrative penalties instead of being put off the road, in the context of a reduction in the limit from 80 mg to 50 mg. We cannot afford to play politics on this subject. I certainly will not do so. I came in for a lot of flak when I spoke in a direct and straight manner about this matter. I ask the Minister to face up to the problem. We cannot afford to lose lives.

The newspaper report that the Government is considering a change may be refuted. Was it mere speculation, designed to see what would happen? Did those who made the suggestion want to see if there would be an outcry from the public or from publicans? I accept that the publicans lobby does a good job. The changes which have been made in the interests of road safety represent part of the reason for the demise of rural life and pub life. We should have a proper debate on the matter. Young people are not fools — if they can buy a can of Carlsberg for €1, they will not spend €4 on it in the pub next door. Such matters need to be considered. It is not the case that the reduction in the drink driving limit is the only reason for the diminishing of rural life.

As Fine Gael's road safety spokesperson, I will support the Government in this regard if it does a good job. It seems that the number of road deaths is beginning to decrease. We should not play politics of the kind that was played in a newspaper last Monday week. We are lucky that the Road Safety Authority is still intact. I do not know who caused this story to appear in the newspaper. I do not know what the idea was. If that is the way politics is going, it is not very nice. The Government should say what it intends to do. We will debate it and support it if it deserves support. The Government should not wait until after the local elections. The longer it waits, the more people will be killed.

See this speech in context