An Independent TD says he doesn't believe in climate change and that 'God above is in charge of the weather and we can't do anything about it'.

The controversy surrounding a call to relax the drink-driving laws for rural drivers has taken a sinister turn, with members of the Healy-Rae political family receiving death threats.

Alan Shatter said it was “grossly irresponsible” for politicians to encourage drivers to exceed the alcohol limit.

‘Irish Examiner’ reporter Donal Hickey, who has lived most of his life in the countryside, says easy access to transport colours city dwellers’ opinions on relaxing drink-driving laws for those in rural areas

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar insists the new credit card-size driving licence is not open to fraud abuse.

Rural drinkers yesterday raised their glasses to a councillor who called for Garda permits to be issued to people in the countryside allowing them a pint or two over the legal limit.

Fuming Ray D’Arcy hung up on Kerry councillor Danny Healy-Rae yesterday morning after giving him a dressing down for wasting the country’s time with his “hare-brained” drink-driving motion.

A bid by Kerry councillors to let motorists in rural areas break drink-drive laws has been condemned by alcohol-awareness groups.