Shane Ross has labelled some of his Oireachtas colleagues as “puppets of the publicans” for slowing down the delivery of a new bill that will impose an automatic three-month suspension on all motorists found to be drink driving.
The bill, which was passed by cabinet in February, has been stuck in the committee stage for three months. It has faced significant opposition from a number of TDs including Michael Healy-Rae, a Kerry TD and publican, who has criticised the veracity of the RSA’s drink-driving statistics.
Speaking at the RSA International Conference in Dublin Castle yesterday, Mr Ross said the deaths of 188 people on Irish roads last year was not something that should be tolerated if “we are to call ourselves a civilised society”.
“There is a huge responsibility on us in the Oireachtas to reduce those figures and I think it’s fair to say that responsibility is not being taken seriously enough by a large number of its members,” he said.
“The committee appears to be in no hurry; hopefully none of its members have been unduly influenced by the assertions it heard from the Vintners Federation of Ireland.
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“I think it’s fair to say that those who have been remarking that some of my colleagues are puppets of the publicans are not far off the mark.”
Gillian Treacy, who lost her four-year-old son in 2013 when her car was hit by a drunk driver, called on the government to enact the minister’s proposed legislation. “The opposition to this bill is an insult to my family and the memory of Ciarán,” she said.
“I appeal to our politicians to please stop putting narrow vested interests ahead of people’s lives and to support this bill.” Ms Treacy, who is one of a number of faces appearing on the RSA’s advertising campaign, received a standing ovation for her comments.
Under current legislation anyone found driving with between 50mg and 80mg per 100ml of alcohol in their blood can receive a fine of €200 and three penalty points. The changes made by the bill would mean anyone caught driving within the 51mg to 80mg bracket would receive an automatic three-month suspension from driving.
Arrests for driving under the influence in 2017 increased by 18 per cent to 2,915 according to the gardaí. The figures show that more arrests were made for drink driving in April than in any other month in the past five years.
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A total of 63 people have died on the roads so far this year, a reduction of 13 on the same period last year.
Fianna Fáil has declined to support the minister's bill but it has gained backing from Sinn Féin. Last month Imelda Munster, Sinn Fein’s transport spokeswoman, said there needed to be a “deterrent”. She added: “We want to avoid that dreaded knock on the door bringing bad news.”