Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

I hope this is the right time to bring up penalty points. We have all been supportive in the campaign against driving under the influence of alcohol. I would like to ask the Minister one question about fixed penalty notices which confer penalty points. If a person receives penalty points for driving with a blood alcohol level of between 50 and 80 mg per 100 ml, they will stay on the person's licence for five years, while penalty points for speeding, which is also a massive killer, remain for only three years. Did the Minister consider this? Could he reduce the period of application of the penalty points from five years to three years in the interests of fairness?

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