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State your position, demands PARC
27.10.09
by Simon McGeady,
Inishowen Independent
INISHOWEN anti drink driving campaigner Susan
Gray has called on Donegal’s TDs and senators to
reveal where they stand on Transport Minister
Noel Dempsey’s bill proposing the reduction of
the legal drink drive limit from 80mgs to 50mgs
of alcohol per 100mls of blood.
At a meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary
party last week, 22 TDs spoke out against
Dempsey’s bill with some backbenchers
threatening to vote against the new limit.
However, only a few of those TDs, including Cork
North West’s Michael Moynihan, subsequently made
their position public.
On October 5, PARC founder Gray sent letters to
each member of the Oireachtas asking them to
indicate whether they would support the proposed
reduction in the drink drive limit and the
introduction of compulsory testing of drivers
involved in traffic collisions.
“I’m very disappointed that I did not receive a
reply or even an acknowledgement from local F.F.
Senator Cecelia Keaveney or T.D. Niall Blaney.
Tanaiste Mary Coughlan's office informed me on
October 15 that Ms Coughlan did receive my
letter but to date she has not replied to me,”
stated Mrs Gray in an email to this publication
yesterday morning. |
“We need to know where
our Donegal Government representatives stand on this
issue as they are the people responsible for
introducing laws to protect Irish citizens. Do they
want to protect our loved ones on the roads against
drink drivers or are they protecting the drink
drivers?
“Our Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey is
determined to bring this life saving road safety
Bill through the Oireachtas and passed into law as
soon as possible because his main objective is to
save lives and prevent injuries caused by drink
drivers. |
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As we watch certain TDs
and Senators trying to delay this essential
legislation, we will see more and more innocent, law
abiding people losing their lives in totally
avoidable alcohol related crashes,” added the PARC
spokesperson, who was in the RTE studios last
Thursday to debate the introduction the lower limit
on Prime Time.
Gortahork based Fianna Fail Senator Brian Ó
Domhnaill did reply to Mrs Gray’s request stating he
would “certainly be supporting the legislation on
the basis of [PARC’s] ongoing continued commitment
to this particular matter.”
In a radio interview at the weekend Michael Moynihan
stated there was no evidence that reducing the limit
from 80 to 50 mgs would lead to a decline in deaths
on our roads. Deputy Moynihan also stated the bill
would add to isolation in rural communities among
those who drive into their nearest town once or
twice a week for a glass or two of beer.
However, citing World Health Oganisation data, Mrs
Gray said impairment kicks in once you’ve had your
first drink.
“When the limit was reduced from 100mgs to 80mgs in
1994 we had the same rural isolation argument coming
from some TDs.
Minister Noel Dempsey is seeking to publish the bill
in the coming months. A parliamentary vote to
follow. |
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