Fine Gael to use whip for vote on drink-driving laws

Fine Gael TDs and senators will be whipped into voting in favour of a significant beefing up of Ireland’s drink-driving laws, despite concerns about the impact it could have on rural communities.

The move was confirmed at a private meeting last night which heard Mental Health Minister Jim Daly warn that a death by suicide due to rural isolation is just as tragic as a death on the roads.

At Fine Gael’s weekly parliamentary party meeting last night, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar urged TDs and senators to back the bill put forward by Independent Alliance TD and Transport Minister Shane Ross.