Déirdre de Búrca (Green Party)

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, to address the House on his proposal on lowering the blood alcohol limit from 80 mg per 100 ml to 50 mg per 100 ml? I raise this because I noticed in an article in The Irish Times today that more than 500 people were arrested for suspected drink driving offences over the bank holiday weekend. This was because the traffic corps had almost 2,000 checkpoints on arterial routes from Dublin and also in provincial towns around the country. It is worrying to believe that so many were arrested for suspected drink driving. In some cases, where it did not appear there was any alcohol in the suspects' blood, they were tested for drugs.

This House should have a mature and sensible debate on the issue of drink driving. We should not tolerate any drink driving. Many Senators from rural constituencies will have the points of view of their constituents to put forward. Many people do not like the proposal to lower the blood alcohol limit but we need to consider the overall risk being posed to people's lives and the carnage on our roads. We need to recognise there is a problem on our roads and drink plays a part in that. We, in this House, need to have a sensible, mature and well-informed debate on the issue. I would appreciate if the Leader would ask the Minister to address the matter in the House.