Kerry councillors ‘courting voters’

KERRY councillors-cum-publicans opposed to reductions in the blood/alcohol limit for driving were yesterday accused of courting popularity in the run-up to next year’s local elections.

Gertie Shields, of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said councillors were only window dressing.

“The minister (Noel Dempsey) has no choice but to lower the limit, but the councillors will be seen to have done their best by their constituents,” she said.

Kerry Co Council passed a motion calling on the minister not to change the blood/alcohol levels.

The four councillors who jointly tabled the motion — Tom Fleming and Michael O’Shea, both FF, Bobby O’Connell, FG, and Danny Healy-Rae, Independent — are also publicans.

The Road Safety Authority is advocating a reduction in blood/alcohol content from 0.08% to 0.05%.

Cllr O’Connell, a publican in Castleisland, said a reduction would add to rural isolation. “I have customers perfectly capable of driving home after one, or two, pints and some have been doing it for 60 years.”