Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is an extremely tragic case. Unfortunately, there were many such cases last year when there was a considerable increase in deaths on our roads attributed to alcohol use. I take the Deputy's point that the enforcement of the law is extremely important. I emphasise that it is a priority area. It should be anyway but it is certainly a priority given the increasing number of deaths on our roads - primarily of young men aged between 18 and their late twenties. This is a particularly vulnerable group. I repeat that we need to repeat the road safety message and strengthen our legislation. The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, which is the first legislation dealing with health promotion in this area, is extremely important and gives the message from this House that there can be no ambivalence in this area. We are famous for our ambivalence about alcohol but there can be no ambivalence when it comes to drink driving.

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