Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

We need to strike a balance between the carrot and the stick. Senator Burke has mentioned a carrot. I am sure people in every pub who wish to act responsibly but cannot avail of a booze bus are capable of lifting the telephone to get a taxi to take them home. When the Garda starts to implement this new measure, it will have a major deterring effect. The provision of booze buses is very sensible. We are all familiar with very responsible publicans who do not allow drivers who have consumed alcohol to drive their vehicles. In such circumstances, publicans will drive the people in question home or arrange for them to be brought home in taxis. The Australian approach, which involves booze buses, seems to be working in that country. Perhaps the Garda will consider it when they are drawing up the guidelines.