Tough drink-driving laws f inally get Dáil green light
AFTER months of wrangling and angry chamber outbursts, strict new drinkdriving legislation finally made its way over the finish line in the Dáil yesterday. Under the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, motorists with even lower levels of alcohol in their bloodstreams will be automatically disqualified
At the moment, it’s illegal to drive with more than 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. But an automatic disqualification from driving only kicks in at 80mg.
Anyone found to have between 50mg and 80mg receives three penalty points and a €200 fine.
But the new laws, proposed by Transport Minister Shane Ross, would impose stricter penalties on drink driving at lower levels, including automatic disqualification for all drink-drivers caught with more than 50mg level of alcohol in their blood.
Welcoming the passage of the Bill, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar referred to the time it took, saying: ‘I do regret that a small number of TDs held up this legislation. I appreciate that they object to it, but by holding up this legislation, they’ve also held up other important legislation.
‘And that’s not really the way to run a parliament, I dont think.’
A number of rural TDs had strongly resisted the Bill on the grounds that it would make it almost impossible for people to enjoy a drink in their local pub without risking being disqualified from driving. Despite their opposition, the Bill was passed, with 75 TDs voting in favour and eight against.
The law now goes to the Seanad next week, which ‘has got a very constructive attitude to it’, according to Minister Ross. ‘We don’t have the level of irresponsibility in the Seanad that we unfortunately have among small numbers in the Dáil.’
He added: ‘It’s been an endurance test, and those who have delayed this legislation should go back and reflect on the utter recklessness of what they are doing in the face of the danger to lives from alcohol.’
It’s unclear how long the Bill will take to get through the Seanad – at which point it can be signed into law by the President.
Moyagh Murdock, Ireland’s Road Safety Authority chief executive, said there was an ‘overwhelming’ support for the Bill.
She said the Bill was brought forward on facts and evidence, and people have been killed or injured during the long delay in passing the Bill.
The Taoiseach praised the Transport Minister for his success. ‘I want to praise Minister Ross for his leadership in getting the legislation through,’ he said.
‘We absolutely understand that there are concerns, particularly in some rural areas, about the impact on rural isolation.
‘That’s why, even before the Bill was passed, we put more money into rural transport, in particular, and I think that’s an important measure, and I hope that’s recognised too.’
‘It’s been an endurance test’