Drink-driving crackdown a step closer despite Ross blunder in vote

A DRINK-DRIVING crackdown spearheaded by Transport Minister Shane Ross is a step closer despite a blunder that saw him vote against his own plan in the Dáil.

Mr Ross (inset) pressed the wrong button during the vote before realising his error and having the record corrected.

Regardless of the mistake, his plan to automatically ban all motorists caught above the legal alcohol limit passed comfortably on to the next stage of the law-making process.

Mr Ross said last night: “Lives will be saved by this important legislation”.

His spokesperson confirmed that he had “inadvertently” pressed the wrong button in the Dáil but said the vote was corrected.

Fianna Fáil TDs abstained and the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017 was passed by 85 votes to eight.

Among those against the bill were rural Independents Danny Healy-Rae and Mattie McGrath.

Mr Ross’s planned law – which will now be debated at Committee stage in the Oireachtas – would introduce a three-month mandatory ban for drivers found to have reached an alcohol limit of between 50-80mg per 100ml.

It has faced resistance from some rural TDs over concerns on the impact it could have on small local pubs and their customers. Mr Healy-Rae previously claimed there was a “crusade” to isolate people in rural Ireland and that eating a big meal and getting behind the wheel of a car was as dangerous as drink driving.

Mr Ross said last night that despite “strong lobbying” by vested interests, he had found there was widespread support in both urban and rural areas as well as among road safety campaigners.

He said there was no single solution to preventing deaths on the roads, but it was important to send a clear message that driving over the limit was a serious offence, resulting in disqualification.