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Should drink drivers get an automatic ban? Doctors will be debating that today

The Irish Medical Organisation’s AGM is happening in Galway.

MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM all over Ireland will be in Galway today for the Irish Medical Organisation’s AGM.

The annual conference began yesterday and will continue tomorrow, when it will be addressed by Health Minister Simon Harris.

imo tweet IMO / Twitter IMO / Twitter / Twitter

Several motions are set to be discussed today, including a proposal to call on the government to legislate for an automatic ban from driving, “of appropriate duration”, for anyone convicted of drink driving offences, including first time offenders.

The debate will be timely given Transport Minister Shane Ross’ proposed legislation that would mean anyone caught driving over the legal alcohol limit would get a minimum three-month ban. The bill has been criticised by some, including a number of rural TDs.

shutterstock_233027959 File photo Shutterstock / Monika Gruszewicz Shutterstock / Monika Gruszewicz / Monika Gruszewicz

Ross has claimed the legislation could save 35 lives over the next five years, based on Road Safety Authority figures that show at least 35 people died in collisions from 2008 to 2012 in which involved drivers were found responsible due to alcohol levels at between 21 and 80mg/100ml.

Ross recently told the Oireachtas Transport Committee: “So if people ask what good this bill will do, there is the answer. If we could prevent 35 deaths over the next five years, wouldn’t it be worth it?”

This number of lives that could be saved has been disputed as it doesn’t take into account other mitigating factors, as laid out here.

Future of healthcare 

Other motions to be debated at the conference today include:

  • Urging the government to not limit the availability of medicinal cannabis products in any future legislation by restricting their prescription to consultants and the indications for which they can be prescribed
  • Calling for the introduction of a tax relief system for debt undertaken to acquire medical training
  • A proposal that the HSE and Department of Health will publish, on a weekly basis, details of the numbers of patients on trolleys, the number of cancelled operations, the readmission rate to emergency departments post-discharge and outpatient waiting list numbers
  • A call for all health professionals to strongly support the HPV vaccination programme

The future of healthcare in Ireland will also be discussed, including talks on financial investment and why so many young doctors emigrate to pursue a career abroad.

Outgoing IMO President Dr John Duddy will address delegates this afternoon.

Keep up to date with the latest news from the AGM by following @orlaryan on Twitter.

Read: Over 50,000 sign petition to prevent Sisters of Charity becoming owners of maternity hospital

Read: ‘It robs you of your very being’: Life with the invisible illness

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29 Comments
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    Mute Were Jammin
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:07 PM

    So they’re looking at quantative easing, which was absolutely out of the question to give the gullible Irlanders a dig out for saving their currency and banks, but as soon as Germanys economy slows down it full staem ahead with the QE quicker than you can say ‘I have sauerkraut in my lederhosen’.

    Do I have to mention the ‘seismic shift’? If it can’t be secured now, it was a lie all along.

    134
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    Mute George Grey
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:34 PM

    Unemployment still way too high, property bubble on the horizon, thousands of mortgage arrears still not being dealt with, water charges on the way to compliment all the other extra taxes introduced over the last few years, banks still restricting credit and the national debt is as high as it ever was. “Sure we’ll be grand”.

    96
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    Mute Simon Barnes
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:50 PM

    And you forgot the interest rates that will have to go up at some point. That’s going to be the real killer for Ireland

    54
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    Mute Niall H
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:53 PM

    2008 was nothing. It was caused by banking debt. Now we enter a period where sh!t is about to hit the fan with SOVEREIGN debt.
    When banks crash, some people lose their jobs.
    When countries crash, everybody loses their life savings along with their jobs.

    43
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    Mute L Connors
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:58 PM

    Quantative easing devalues savings so it’s not in the interest of Germany, a country of savers. I’m sure Germany will continue to resist it – as they should as it makes us all poorer.

    29
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    Mute Robin Tobin
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 6:15 PM

    George what property bubble , that is government spin, europe is an asylum doctored by Germany because the EC bank is there.

    19
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    Mute seamus mcdermott
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    Sep 4th 2014, 9:31 AM

    She lifted her skirt and we were amazed to see that she was a “he”. ;-)

    1
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    Mute bigmac
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:25 PM

    The same story is being spun here in Spain. The economy is on the up but with nearly 6 million unemployed it is not having any effect. In august alone the nearly 300,000 people have had their dole cut off, at least a million families have all members on the dole, so they can paint all the pictures the want but the next ten years will be bleak

    111
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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:44 PM

    “Ireland: The recovery is on track but almost six years after the economic bust, fantasy economics endure.” http://www.finfacts.ie/irishfinancenews/article_1028114.shtml

    45
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    Mute Robin Tobin
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 6:13 PM

    Bigmac it is all lies I watch a financial banker from Germany talk on Bloomberg this afternoon. Nothing changed Germany does not see the rest of Europe as being significant or allowed any point of view. Their business sector fears if this changes the german economy will collaspe. I guess we are told this lies in Ireland because of are impending auster budget in October and an election in February 2016.

    Ireland had enough our politicians know this and our growth is slowing european growth is at 0.2% not healthy because Spain and Ireland will be dragged down once again with Europe.

    33
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    Mute Dee4
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:01 PM

    sure that was the situation in 07.If Europe goes down so does Ireland. If interest rates go up, Ireland goes down. “We” are living the American dream, one pay cheque from being kicked out on the street

    86
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    Mute Kev
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:38 PM

    doesnt it feel like theres an election on the way with all this spin.

    70
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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:13 PM

    Come on you boys in Green, the rest of Europe will again look upon us with the respect we deserve for our astute economic genius! Everybody go home and treat yourself to a bottle of champagne.

    67
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    Mute michael conlon
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:52 PM

    FFS ,?Ted r u on white powder,?

    9
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    Mute Seamus MacIonnrachtaigh
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    Sep 4th 2014, 11:15 AM

    He’s on a drug called “Understanding the concept of irony”.

    3
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    Mute Niall Condren
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:04 PM

    “Ireland steams ahead” pfft

    64
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    Mute PAUL DOYLE
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:04 PM

    This all sounds very familiar

    58
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    Mute Harry byrne
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 9:18 PM

    Unbelievably familiar..

    11
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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:27 PM

    Yay Thursday nites on the lash are back on the cards! !

    48
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:17 PM

    So how long will Ireland steam ahead for if its European market is dead in the water?

    46
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 5:24 PM

    In your face, Europe.

    39
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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 7:25 PM

    US multinationals are the key drivers of Ireland’s economy, so no worries, for the moment at least. It’s a case of steady as she goes!

    Our 12.5 % Corporation Tax rate; being the only English speaking country in the Euro Zone; and the excellent work of Enterprise Ireland, is what’s keeping the Yankee Dollar Investments flowing Ireland’s way. Hopefully, no major changes emerge to US corporation tax rules that might change the dynamic for FDI from there to Ireland.

    If Germany okays QE, it will be to suit its own interests, and nobody else’s. But this will also suit Ireland big time. As David McWilliams says “start those printing presses”

    Putin’s antics must really have messed up Germany as well as Russia’s own economy given the olive branches being held out today regarding Ukraine.

    Common sense always returns when billionaires get around a table.

    16
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    Mute Shaun Gallagher
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    Sep 3rd 2014, 10:42 PM

    Such shite

    9
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    Mute seamus mcdermott
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    Sep 4th 2014, 9:01 AM

    Oh, isn’t that nice. JP Morgan (settled a fraud case brought by the US Justice Department for 13 billion USD) is predicitng the ECB moves. Meanwhile, the ECB hires Blackrock Financial (charged with securities fraud by the New York Attorney General) to provide advice as it ” as it thrashes out the final design of its plan, including how much, which assets, and what ranking of bonds it will buy.”

    You can’t make this stuff up. What the hell are we doing in this monetary system that is run by fraudsters?

    8
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