Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I hope both Houses will unite in the efforts being made to bring about his release and return to his family and education.

Yesterday the Road Safety Authority, RSA, the Garda Síochána and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport launched the Christmas-new year road safety campaign. It calls on all drivers to be very drink aware over Christmas. It is frightening that a survey conducted on behalf of the RSA shows that up to 284,000 drivers admit to having driven while under the influence of drink in the past 12 months and that 150 people are arrested every week for drink driving. Men are by far the worst culprits, at 85%. Some 50% of those people who drank and drove are in the age category 20 to 39. Most arrests take place on Saturdays and Sundays. As we come into the Christmas party season, I advise everybody to leave the car at home and organise a taxi or designated driver. We do not want to hear any more heart-rending stories, such as Gillian Treacy’s account of the heartbreak her family has endured as a result of the loss of her four-year-old son. As well as the potential loss of life, people need to be conscious of the loss of their livelihoods as a result of a driving ban. No family should ever be bereaved as a result of a drink driving accident. I urge everybody this Christmas and new year, and for all of 2016, to keep that in mind and to make sure they never get behind the wheel of a car after having consumed alcohol.