TD’s ‘verbal diarrhoea’

ROAD safety campaigners hit out at the efforts to delay the passage of stricter drink-driving penalties yesterday.

Several rural TDs have opposed the Bill for months, with Kerry deputy Michael Healy-Rae yesterday accused of ‘verbal diarrhoea’ as he tried to delay its passage.

Mr Healy-Rae talked for over an hour about what he called adverse effects on rural communities. Declan Breathnach, FF, said: ‘We’re listening to nothing, only verbal diarrhoea. The issue of stalling it is absolutely inappropriate.’

Margaret Kavanagh, 60, whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver in 1991, also slammed Mr Healy-Rae’s behaviour in the Dáil. ‘He’s talking about the concerns of the vintners of Kerry when people’s lives are on the line.’