10 will lose lives after drink-drive climbdown
Plans for lower limit hit by long delay after FF backbench revolt
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Thursday October 22 2009
AT LEAST 10 people will die on our roads over the next 12 months because of the Government's climbdown on plans to reduce drink-driving limits, road safety chiefs predicted last night.
The stark forecast emerged after a major rowback by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and some of his Cabinet in the face of a revolt by backbench FF TDs.
The Government yesterday used a bizarre comparison with drink-driving regulations in the North as part of an attempt to kick the proposal to touch.
Transport Minister Noel Dempsey had earlier insisted there would be no delays in forcing through the new lower limit. However, following the fractious confrontation with party backbenchers on Tuesday night, sources said it could now be at least another 18 months before the limit is reduced.
Mr Dempsey insisted yesterday he wanted a change in the limit to be matched by a similar change in the North.
But there was no mention of any such north-south cooperation when Mr Dempsey was savagely criticised during his presentation to the backbenchers.
Road safety chiefs and the families of victims of drink driving reacted with fury to the delay.
The Road Safety Authority said lowering the limit would save 10 lives a year, and avoid more than 100 serious injuries.
The outcome of a public consultation exercise on reducing the limit in the North will not be known until mid-November at the earliest.
This effectively allows the Government to kick the divisive issue to touch until after the December Budget.
Mr Dempsey denied the new delay was a climbdown or an attempt to buy time. "That interpretation is complete, total and absolute nonsense," he told the Irish Independent.
But government sources said it was clear the delay would take the heat out of the issue ahead of the Budget, when Mr Cowen needed all his backbenchers onside.
Mr Dempsey insisted the Department of Transport has been working with its Northern counterparts since November 2007 to bring about a coordinated response.
Setting himself up for further attacks from Fianna Fail backbenchers, Mr Dempsey vowed to pursue his reduced limit of 50mg.
"The Government has made a decision... that we reduce the blood alcohol content level from 80mg to 50mg. It's my intention and the Government's intention that that should happen," he said.
Disgruntled
Aside from his own angry backbenchers, Mr Dempsey will also have to contend with government-supporting independent TD Jackie Healy-Rae who pledged to vote against the Government if the limits are changed.
"I'm sick of it, that's all. I'm sick of it," Mr Healy-Rae said.
"I'm not voting for it. I'm voting against it."
Amid the continued fallout from the Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting, Mr Cowen and Justice Minister Dermot Ahern moved to buy time and keep disgruntled backbenchers onside.
Both claimed the Government was looking to ensure cross-border cooperation.
And there remains no definitive date for publishing the controversial legislation or debating its contents in the Dail.
Instead, Mr Dempsey claimed it would be published "this session" -- meaning between now and Christmas.
Road Safety Authority chief executive Noel Brett said it would be "fantastic" if the measure could be introduced on an all-island basis.
"However, right now, it shouldn't prevent us from pushing ahead," he said.
- Aine Kerr and Paul Melia
Irish Independent
