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File photo Liam McBurney PA Wire/PA Images

Drink drivers will be automatically banned when caught

Cabinet approved the plan from Shane Ross earlier today.

MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT Shane Ross has announced that he has received approval from his Cabinet colleagues to implement a new law that will see drink drivers disqualified from driving.

Ross said that he hopes that the General Scheme of a Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty – Drink Driving) Bill can be now be passed as soon as possible, and without any amendment.

He said that disqualifying drivers who were found to be drink driving was “proportionate” and would “ultimately save lives”.

He said that drink driving continues to be a serious issue in Ireland, and that “we can no longer be ambivalent in our attitude toward this destructive practice”.

The Minister cited research conducted by the Road Safety Authority, which shows that 500 people were arrested for drink driving in the first three weeks of December alone, as showing the need for a change in how we punish those found to have been drink driving.

He said: “What I am now proposing is that the existing provision allowing people to get penalty points rather than a disqualification for drink driving sends the wrong message and should go.

Instead of three penalty points, such drivers will get a three-month disqualification.

“Drink driving is serious, and potentially fatal. Even a small amount of alcohol can impair people’s reactions, and that cannot be tolerated when people are behind the wheel of a car.”

He added that it was important to get this bill through quickly to send the message that drink driving can no longer go “without serious consequences”.

The bill will now be submitted for formal drafting with a view to publication as soon as possible. It will also be referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Read: ‘Very bad year for road safety’ sees more deaths and more fatal crashes

Read: Three out of five people think those convicted of drink driving should get automatic ban

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    Mute Alan Corlett
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    Apr 26th 2015, 11:38 AM

    Well we have a teacher pretending to do a Taoiseachs job

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    Mute Buckwheat MacMillan
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    Apr 26th 2015, 11:46 AM

    Very original, an off topics dig at govt. a first for the journal

    88
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Apr 26th 2015, 11:49 AM

    Alan, it’s quite normal for a taoiseach to have been in a different job before he became taoiseach. They don’t come up through a special Taoiseach-training college.

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    Mute Alan Corlett
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    Apr 26th 2015, 12:01 PM

    Therein lies the problem

    58
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    Mute Lesley Mulhall
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    Apr 26th 2015, 11:41 AM

    Is it wrong that I found that quite funny? Head case. What possessed her.

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    Mute Arthur Pewty
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    Apr 26th 2015, 11:43 AM

    yes, it is wrong.

    25
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    Mute juicy pants
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    Apr 26th 2015, 11:46 AM

    You’re the head case for finding that funny.

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    Mute Lesley Mulhall
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    Apr 26th 2015, 11:47 AM

    Think I might be on my way to hell!

    55
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    Mute juicy pants
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    Apr 26th 2015, 11:54 AM

    Get her to pull your teeth and you’re half way there!

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    Mute Alan O Reilly
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    Apr 26th 2015, 11:58 AM

    What time do dentists take a break….tooth hurty

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    Mute Biscuits Patinkin
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    Apr 26th 2015, 12:09 PM

    TAXI FOR O’REILLY

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    Mute Chief
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    Apr 26th 2015, 12:32 PM

    One way to nevercomebacksville

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    Mute Celticspirit321
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    Apr 26th 2015, 11:35 AM

    Plenty cowboys in Ireland too

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    Mute Chief
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    Apr 26th 2015, 12:30 PM

    I know!!!

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    Mute Joanna
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    Apr 26th 2015, 11:53 AM

    She totally copied Mr. Bean.

    34
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    Mute David Beattie
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    Apr 26th 2015, 12:02 PM

    At least the authorities copped on to her and got to the Root of the problem.

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    Mute Mark Fields
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    Apr 26th 2015, 11:41 AM

    Tooth fairy?

    18
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    Mute tonymcc
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    Apr 26th 2015, 12:01 PM

    Looks like she has nice teeth,

    15
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    Mute Lauren Masterson
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    Apr 26th 2015, 12:14 PM

    I cried reading this.. All those poor patients … I’m crying for them … I sympathise for the ones who now have dry socket .. I have dry socket on both sides of my mouth where I had my upper wisdom teeth removed last week by a real dentist .. Well I think it was a real dentist. Lol seriously though whatever about pulling teeth performing root canals ??? Ouch

    14
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    Mute Lauren Masterson
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    Apr 26th 2015, 2:49 PM

    Thanks pontius your support is appreciated . Big shout out to the manufacturers of neurophen plus !!

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    Mute Anna Fierce
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    Apr 26th 2015, 6:22 PM

    I think the moral of this story is don’t comment on articles when you’re dosed up on pain meds!

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    Mute Lauren Masterson
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    Apr 26th 2015, 6:36 PM

    I think you may be right…… All the red thumbs.. My ego is hurt as well as my mouth now :(

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    Mute molly coddled
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    Apr 27th 2015, 12:40 AM

    @Lauren, cotton wad soaked in oil of cloves works wonders.

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    Mute molly coddled
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    Apr 27th 2015, 12:44 AM

    *for a dry socket infection.

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    Mute Lauren Masterson
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    Apr 27th 2015, 10:15 AM

    Somebody actually told me the exact same thing yesterday ! I will do that today ! Thank you @Molly

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    Mute Chris
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    Apr 26th 2015, 7:34 PM

    Seems yoy can’t handle the tooth!

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    Mute Michael Vines
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    Apr 26th 2015, 3:35 PM

    She was pulling their teeth, seems that she was pulling their leg as well

    3
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