Opposition silent on drink-driving measures

THE current political debacle about lowering the drink driving limits has some similarities and some differences with the debate in 2003/’04 concerning the introduction of the smoking ban.

Then and now, 20-to-30 Fianna Fáil backbenchers allowed themselves to be spooked by the publican lobby who used the spectre of a disappearing rural Ireland as a key point in their argument to retain the status quo and bolster their vested interest.

Then and now (having checked with the Road Safety Authority), not one community-based organisation that actually represents the real interests of the rural population has posted an objection to reducing the drink-driving limits. In 2003/’04 key ministers also buckled under the publicans’ pressure.