Dempsey should be sacked says angry FF backbencher

Conor McMorrow

Noel Dempsey: new traffic bill

A Fianna Fáil backbencher has called on transport minister Noel Dempsey to be fired from the cabinet over his plans to introduce a new lower limit for drink driving before the end of the year.

Tipperary South TD Mattie McGrath told the Sunday Tribune that Dempsey had drawn up his plan without consulting backbenchers. "There are a number of us who oppose this and we have never been approached by Noel Dempsey and asked about it," he said.

"Dempsey has a lot of these brainwaves. He gets these ideas and he does not ask other Fianna Fáil TDs what they think. He should be moved out of the cabinet."

Last week, Dempsey vowed to forge ahead with the plan, which would reduce the legal limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg.

He said the new law would be contained in a Road Traffic Bill that would be published in the autumn. His proposal has met with vigorous opposition from the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI), which has lobbied TDs on the issue.

The Sunday Tribune understands there is enormous anger among the party's backbenchers about Dempsey's handling of the issue. TDs have expressed their concerns that they were not consulted about Dempsey's decision to forge ahead and claim the minister has gone on a solo run.

McGrath claimed that Dempsey informed only some of the party's TDs about the issue.

"It is my right as a Dáil deputy to be consulted about this. If that is the way he wants to operate then he has no place in the cabinet. I don't want to see anyone knocked down or injured by a drunk driver. I am not condoning drink driving, but there is no evidence that people driving below the current limit are causing accidents. The way it is going, the parish priest couldn't say two masses as he would not be able to drink wine at the two masses. That is just taking it too far."

Another backbench TD, who did not wish to be named, said: "The government decision has been made and I don't know why they came to that agreement but it is a done deal.

"I don't think there is a great demand for the limit to be reduced as there are very few accidents attributable to people in the 50mg to 80mg bracket. It is usually multiples of that level that cause accidents. So are we solving a problem that doesn't exist?"

July 26, 2009

Comments

#1 Fred Simpson commented, on July 26, 2009 at 9:05 p.m.:

Actually on this point Dempsey is correct. Where was McGrath when Dempsey started e-voting ??? Or all the other gaffes by Dempsey, including giving RTE an above inflation licence hike at the expense of the rest of us ??

#2 Anthony commented, on July 26, 2009 at 9:47 p.m.:

Amazing and typical Fianna Fail. They want to sack a minister for at last proposing a sensible policy.They were consulted over the years on the economy and approved the disastrous policies that bankrupted the country. What a rabble. Its time to consign the party to oblivion.
Anthony

#3 Maire Nic Ardail commented, on July 27, 2009 at 12:23 a.m.:

This is just typical of Fianna Fail. As usual the safety and the well being of the people of Ireland does not enter the equation at all. This is what Fianna Fail have being doing all through their term in office. No surprise there then.

#4 Susan Gray commented, on July 27, 2009 at 1:40 p.m.:

Minister Dempsey is doing the right thing in reducing our drink drive limit. Bottom line is that people are losing their lives due to drink driving. If this legislation saves even one life then it's worth it. For far too long our Government have been afraid of taking on the vintners and while they are still stalling, more people are dying needlessly on our roads. Ireland and the UK are the only two countries in the EU (27countries in total) who have NOT lowered their drink drive limit. Reducing our limit would bring us in line with best practise in all countries in Europe and the rest of the world.

Dr. Bedford a specialist in Public Health with the HSE has carried out research for Minister Dempsey where he examined the role of alcohol in fatal crashes. He found that 1 in 3 crashes were alcohol related. It tells us that the risk of involvement in a collision rises significantly once the blood alcohol level rises above 50mg/100ml and that any amount of alcohol in the blood impairs your ability to drive. Drinking and driving just don't mix!

#5 John commented, on July 27, 2009 at 4:26 p.m.:

A friend of mine was done on a Sunday lunchtime for being marginally over the limit from being out on the Saturday night. He was supposed to go out but he waited until lunchtime to be safe, or so he thought. Now he is off the road for two years with all the associated hassle. The measure is stupid. How much further do we go before some wine gums put you over the limit for the next two days.

#6 nonie commented, on July 27, 2009 at 5:50 p.m.:

I support Dempsey all the way on this issue. Bring it on, the zero tolerance to drink driving.

#7 mike commented, on July 27, 2009 at 8:06 p.m.:

Another example of a minister pretending to solve a problem, accidents are not caused by drivers driving between 50 and 80. Crashes are mostly caused by those doing over 100. Enforce the existing laws first. Its the same with sale of cigs and alcohol. Closing off- licences at ten and hiding cigs in the shops. What a joke!

#8 Jason commented, on July 28, 2009 at 5:59 p.m.:

The only time I've came across breathalyser tests being done in over 10 years of driving was early morning (is this when the accidents happen) this lowering of levels will only catch stone cold sober people on their way to work, this drop would be totally out of proportion unless the policing of these limits changed.
ps I despise drink drivers

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