A public transport service similar to the Nitelink bus service in Dublin should be introduced in rural Ireland at weekends to prevent road traffic deaths, which over the past nine years have cost more lives than the Troubles in the North.
The call came from president of Macra na Feirme Colm Markey at the rural youth organisation's annual rally at the weekend in Portlaoise, Co Laois, which was attended by over 2,000 young people.
Mr Markey said rural people were disadvantaged in terms of transport, especially late night transport at the weekends, when people were entitled to go out and enjoy themselves.
"What I would like to see and what I am calling for is the setting up of a Nitelink-style service throughout rural Ireland which would cater for the needs of young and old alike," he said.
"There is no reason, for instance, in my own county, Louth, why there should not be a circular service running until three in the morning past the clubs and pubs and other places of leisure which would service the needs of rural people," he said.
"My belief is that such a service, and I don't care who operates it, would save lives and reduce the number of deaths on the roads at weekends when so many young people die," he said.
He added that if Bus Éireann was not interested in running such a service, then the private sector should be invited to run a shuttle service between various centres at the weekends.
Mr Markey said the 8,000 strong youth organisation had carried out research and had concluded that most of the fatal crashes involving young people were caused by speed and inexperience. Drinking was not a major cause.
"We outlined our policy in a document in 2003 where we called for a number of changes, the most important of which was that safe driving should be taught in the schools, beginning in transition year," he said.
Mr Markey said young people must have a certain number of driving lessons given by a qualified person before getting a licence and when the licence is awarded it should carry restrictions for a time. "We have suggested that young drivers should be limited in the horsepower of the cars they are allowed operate and these restrictions should be enforced properly," he said.
Mr Markey said rural areas were being disadvantaged socially by the lack of such a transport system and it was vital to put a system in place which would make rural areas more attractive to live and work in.
"If a young person has a chance to move and work in an area where there is a good social life they will go there, and that means that there is rural disadvantage now because things like decent weekend transport are not in place," he said.
Over the weekend it emerged that Macra na Feirme has decided to lead the campaign for the promotion of energy crops in the farming community.
The organisation has sought changes in excise duty, planting grants and on ESB carbon charges to promote the growth of the sector here.
The organisation, which is made up of one-third farming members, one-third of people from farming backgrounds and the remainder who have no links with agriculture, has had a very successful recruitment drive.
It is predicting an increase in membership this year following the intensive radio and newspaper campaign urging young people between 17-35 to join the organisation, which works to promote a better quality of life for young people in rural Ireland.