Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I compliment Senator Donohoe on his reasonable and good contribution and on his approach to this Bill. This Bill has been awaited keenly and while many vested interest groups have lobbied on it, the Bill will never replace the lives of those who have been lost in road traffic accidents. At the back of their minds, Members should remember those who have died for whatever reason, as well as their families, those injured in car crashes and so on.

As Senator Carroll rightly said, we can never replace a human life. We should always remember this.

Various vested interest groups have lobbied hard on the Bill. They include the vintners associations, people living in rural areas, the families of victims of road traffic accidents and the media. It is beholden on all of us to enact the legislation as a matter of urgency. It is extremely important that we do so.

Many colleagues would expect me to introduce a note of political reality to the discussion on the Bill. We should have arrived at this point a long time ago. The Bill should be law and we should be talking about the lack of speed cameras, the reduction of Garda overtime, the lack of enforcement and the measures not being taken by the Government which in many ways has cut back services to rural communities and failed to put in place a structure, whereby one can sustain life in rural areas. I am disappointed that we have not yet had that debate. I accept these issues do not form part of the debate on the Bill, but there is a need for a rural transport strategy to combat the loneliness and isolation which are part of rural life.

I very much welcome the fact that the blood alcohol limit is being reduced. Like Senator Carroll, I would not have a difficulty if it was being reduced to zero. We live in a society that is both rural and urban. Deputy Paddy Sheehan made a valid point in the other House, namely, that we do not have Luas and bus services in rural areas. I would never condone the actions of or compliment anyone who drinks and drives. The opposite is the case. One should not drink and drive.

We must introduce measures to help people, not just those living in rural areas but also vintners. The debate could also be about the fact that as a society we have failed to build sustainable communities. I agree with Senator O'Toole in what he said about one-off housing, but we have not planned for a community social life without alcohol. A number of years ago President McAleese spoke about the need to have a debate on the use of alcohol in society. We should have that debate. We should also have a debate on having a life that is not predicated upon the use of alcohol. In conscience we should support the Bill in its entirety and without reservation.

As both of my parents were non-drinkers, I could never comprehend how people could drink and drive. I had an experience with an American cousin who came home every summer. As we grew older and became more mature, we realised why one should not do so. One evening he was under the influence of alcohol and frightened us in the car. Many friends of mine of varying ages who live in rural areas have one or two pints and drive at 20 mph-----