EMBATTLED Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue is helping publicans to lobby against the introduction of a lower drink-driving limit.

The former cabinet member is already embroiled in controversy over his lavish foreign-travel expenses during his time as Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister.

But the revelation of political activity by Mr O'Donoghue undermines claims by his supporters that he could not comment about the expenses affair due to the "non-political" nature of his position as chairman of the Dail.

According to a Freedom of Information request, Mr O'Donoghue has emerged as the most active politician on the issue of reducing the blood-alcohol limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg -- despite his silence over his foreign-travel spending.

Mr O'Donoghue forwarded three letters to his former ministerial colleagues about the drink-driving issue -- more than any other TD.

He sent two constituents' letters to Transport Minister Noel Dempsey, who has publicly pledged to reduce the blood-alcohol limit.

He also sent another constituent's letter on the issue to Justice Minister Dermot Ahern, who in turn forwarded it to Mr Dempsey.

The letters have been blocked from release by the Department of Transport, on the grounds that they are part of the "deliberative process".

But the Kerry branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) has confirmed it has sent letters on the drink-driving limit to Mr O'Donoghue and some other Kerry politicians.

Its chairman, publican John O'Sullivan, confirmed that the Kerry VFI branch had personally met Mr O'Donoghue to outline their concerns and had found him and other local politicians to be "totally supportive" on the issue.

"John O'Donoghue is a politician of long-standing with great credibility, in our opinion; and if he believes that a certain line should be taken and he gives his advice to the minister, I think the minister should sit up and take note," he said.

Jobs

The evidence of Mr O'Donoghue's activity came as the VFI warned yesterday that up to 5,000 jobs in country pubs could be lost by next year, amid claims that the drink-driving clampdown, smoking ban and recession have badly affected the industry.

All 10 representations on the drink-driving limit received by Mr Dempsey in the past three months have been from Fianna Fail TDs in rural constituencies -- including Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe and Junior Minister Tony Killeen.

But it was Mr O'Donoghue who was the most active in forwarding correspondence, with three letters in total.

Mr O'Sullivan said: "In fairness to him, we have met with the Ceann Comhairle and explained our situation. As you know, he's beyond politics but this is an issue which transcends party lines."

Vintners argue that the lowering of the drink-driving limit will prevent motorists from having one pint. They also say the measure will hit rural areas hardest, due to the lack of public transport and taxis. When approached by the Irish Independent outside his constituency office in Cahirciveen, Co Kerry, Mr O'Donoghue said he had made a representation on behalf of a constituent -- and had not been lobbying. "I know for a fact that I have done nothing wrong in this, or in anything else for that matter, but let me go and check for you," he said.

As Ceann Comhairle, Mr O'Donoghue will be automatically re-elected at the next general election but he has continued to hold constituency clinics.

Revelations

Mr O'Donoghue again declined to comment yesterday on recent revelations about spending on foreign travel during his time as Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism.

He and his entourage ran up a €126,000 travel bill over two years; he hired a €1,400-per-day limousine driver during a five-day visit to Cheltenham; and spent €472 on limousine transport between Terminals One and Three at London's Heathrow Airport.

The VFI wants the lowering of the drink-driving limit to be deferred and the national network of speed cameras to be introduced instead. Fianna Fail Galway East TD Micheal Kitt confirmed he had been passing on representations from the Galway Branch of the VFI. He said this was all he had done, but added he wanted Mr Dempsey to discuss providing better rural transport before going ahead with the limit reduction.

Another Fianna Fail TD, Sean Connick, sent in a letter on behalf of the Wexford branch of the VFI.

The other Fianna Fail TDs sending letters on the issue, all believed to be from vintners, were Noel Treacy (Galway East), John Browne (Wexford) and Peter Kelly (Longford).

Mr Dempsey has said it is his intention to see through the commitment in the road-safety strategy to reduce the blood-alcohol level to save lives on the road. A spokeswoman said last night the new Road Traffic Bill, expected to be published in October, would take account of the recommended reduction in the drink-driving limit.

- Michael Brennan and Fiach Kelly