Dempsey insists drink-driving changes will be implemented

MINISTER FOR Transport Noel Dempsey last night insisted his plan to lower the drink-driving limit would be implemented, although Fianna Fáil backbenchers said they would continue to oppose the change.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen told the Dáil yesterday that the measure might best be introduced in co-ordination with a similar change in the North, a comment which was interpreted as a “kicking to touch” of the issue by some backbenchers.

This interpretation was rejected by Mr Dempsey.

“If there’s people saying that’s kicking to touch, that’s nonsense,” the Minister told The Irish Times. “The Bill is due for publication in this session, drafting is being finalised.”

On Tuesday night, Mr Cowen and Mr Dempsey called on backbenchers to reflect on their positions at the end of a heated parliamentary party meeting. More than 20 speakers criticised the Cabinet-approved plan which would see the blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for motorists reduced from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood.

Last night, Tipperary South TD Mattie McGrath said backbenchers opposed to the plan had been heartened by Mr Cowen’s intervention but disappointed by Mr Dempsey’s comments.

“He [Mr Cowen] made a statement that whatever we do will have to be in conjunction with Northern Ireland. We were heartened by that.

“I thought that was kicking to touch for a while and giving us a bit of space,” Mr McGrath said.

Mr Dempsey’s subsequent appearance on RTÉ’s Six One News was “disappointing and disquieting”, he added.

Cork North West deputy Michael Moynihan said backbenchers would keep up their resistance. “I’m hoping that the Minister’s listening, despite what he said on the Six One News,” Mr Moynihan said.

Mr Cowen’s intervention was in response to a question posed by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny during the order of business in the Dáil yesterday. Mr Kenny said he understood Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern had told his local radio station that the situation in the Republic would have to be compatible with that in Northern Ireland.

“Will the Taoiseach say whether this is true and if the proposed Bill will not be introduced by the Minister until there is compatibility between the two jurisdictions in this regard?” Mr Kenny asked.

“In other words, is the Minister for Transport’s Bill dependent on there being an equivalent alcohol limit in Northern Ireland?” he asked.

Mr Cowen said the Minister had been seeking North-South co-ordination at ministerial council level.

“As we have seen with the mutual recognition of disqualifications and speeding, the need for co-ordination is very beneficial and important from a road safety point of view,” Mr Cowen said.

A spokeswoman for Mr Dempsey said it had always been the Government’s intention to co-ordinate the introduction of a lower BAC with the Northern Ireland authorities, “in so far as this is possible”.