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TRANSPORT MINISTER SHANE Ross has said he is “very pleased” the Fine Gael party have ruled out a free vote on his new drink driving legislation.
Fine Gael TDs and senators will not have a free vote on the controversial new law, after a majority of members agreed to a “united approach to supporting the Bill”.
The new law will result in anyone caught driving over the legal alcohol limit getting a minimum three-month ban.
Currently, anyone with a full license caught driving with an alcohol level between 50mg and 80mg is liable to three penalty points on their license and a €200 fine.
The Bill was discussed at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting this evening, where it is understood 24 contributors spoke about the proposed Road Traffic Bill, with many asking for the party whip not to be imposed.
During the summer, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said all Fine Gael ministers would have to support the Bill, but it is understood he was anxious for all Fine Gael members to show united front on the issue and avoid a free vote.
‘Mature decision’
Minister Shane Ross told TheJournal.ie this evening that he is happy that Fine Gael made a “mature decision” to support his Bill.
He said he is now confident his Bill will make it through the House, despite Fianna Fáil stating they will not support it.
“Fianna Fáil are still against it, I hope they will come around,” said Ross.
Fianna Fáil argues that the current measures should be strengthened, by increasing penalties to five penalty points and a €500 fine. It does not approve of a three-month driving ban.
A member of his own group, the Independent Alliance member Sean Canney, has also indicated that he will not be supporting the Bill.
The minister said it had been flagged to him that a number of TDs in the Fine Gael party had concerns with the Bill, but he said clearly they had “come around” to the idea.
“This means it should go through unamended,” he said.
“I am very pleased this evening. Ultimately, this Bill is about bringing in new measures that will save lives,” he added.
The Fine Gael party chairman, Martin Heydon, did undertake to explore what measures could be introduced to strengthen rural transport links in general.
A number of TDs, such as Fianna Fáil’s Robert Troy and Junior Minister Brendan Griffin, have stated that rural transport must be improved, so that those living in the country can go to the pub and return home safely.
Both TDs have also floated the idea of giving publicans tax breaks and incentives to provide transport to bring their customers home, however, the idea has been shot down by the minister.
Ross said meetings have been held with stakeholders, such as the Irish Vintners Association, the Irish Farmers Association, Irish Rural Links and the National Transport Authority in bid to come up with concrete ideas of how to help with rural isolation.
“We recognised that pubs are closing down in rural areas. I want to preserve the social life of those who live in rural Ireland, and if we can, we will come with some concrete solutions,” he said.
The Bill will be introduced next Thursday, with Ross stating he is confident it will progress very quickly.
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Great now get to work on something that will actually make a difference
@Kian: really worth his salary, that man. One upgraded piece of department prepared legislation since getting the job, and a busy spell of thinking about and more thinking about whether to make appointments or not. Don’t know where he finds the time, a hero to the talking class.
@Kian:
He’s such a mug!!
@Kian: look at the face on him. That laugh, on that face, makes you just want to slap him. Well it does for me.
Yes alcohol should be banned as well as meat. There should be a curfew, everyone should be at home for 10am. Laughter should be banned as it lacks concentration. Right to think freely should be banned and anyone that tries will be punished for doing so. Chocolate and anything that tastes nice should also be banned as food should taste horrible to be healthy. The list goes on and on. Yes I’m being sarcastic but wouldn’t be surprised if someday life will be like that if this craze continues.
@Elizabeth Barry: Yes alcohol should be banned as well as meat. There should be a curfew, everyone should be at home for 10pm. Laughter should be banned as it lacks concentration. Right to think freely should be banned and anyone that tries will be punished for doing so. Chocolate and anything that tastes nice should also be banned as food should taste horrible to be healthy. The list goes on and on. Yes I’m being sarcastic but wouldn’t be surprised if someday life will be like that if this craze continues.
@Elizabeth Barry: faecitious rather than sarcastic. I’m not sure why you are associating drink driving with other pleasurable things – I’m actually for legalising hash, and making drink available 24-7, but I can understand why it shouldn’t be a normal thing to be hammered and drive around country roads without a care in the world. Pubs do not survive on one bloke with a half of smithwicks all night, no matter where they are; they survive on getting punters tanked or half tanked, and if they can figure out how to get them home without killing themselves or others, then they shouldn’t be in business.
@Gulliver Foyle: careless drivers, breaking speed limits, being over tired, driving while talking on the phone, texting. Those have nothing to do with car crashes. And about the other things I put on the list. It’s not that far in the future. Ireland is dead and buried.
@Elizabeth Barry: Well, you know what they say about sarcasm….
Will the new law actually be enforced or will it just result in a tripling of fictitious breath tests ?
What a complete tool of man!
Will their ” free vote” be before or after they have been instructed which way to vote?
how about going to a pub and not drinking alcohol
@steve white: How about going to a funfair and not getting on any of the rides : (
@steve white:
How about going to Leinster House and not answering questions.
And get well paid for it.
@Paddy Hayden: how about removing the law permitting TDs to drink drive coming to and from Dail sittings. We have had issues with this before. Not to mention removing a tax payer funded bar from the work place
And Shane is also very happy FG gave him a Garda station in the highly dangerous location of Stepaside ahead of other war zones in Ireland. How many votes does Lord Ross owe FG now?
Hopefully FF and the rural independents will all vote against this bill. We need to teach Ross a lesson as well as preserve Rural Ireland and give the isolated and lonely people of Ireland, that Ross and his FG friends have ignored, some light at the end of the tunnel. Preserve the Rural pubs and Post Offices and Shops. Ireland does not end at the Nass Rd.
He really is a complete abbreviation of Richard!
:-)
jesuschrist
This law is needed.
@Caoimhghin Whyte: It’s needed now. So is adequate public transport. I’d say eventually there will be more self-driving cars in the country. And we still won’t have better transport options. Unless the people who have to get the bus support improvements.
It surprises me that Shane Ross is delighted with FG imposing the party whip. He was the one who criticized the whip system as being unfair and one of his reasons to leave FG. He’s delighted now because it suits his crusade. He seems to want it both ways when necessary.
More Dublin based nanny state by a minister who thinks he is the country because Stepaside is a few metres outside the M50.
@Randal McNally: He is the minister for transport for the whole country, although I grant you it’s hard to believe that when you’re trying to get a bus from any small town these days.
How about closing the bar in laughter house.Set a good example.
When he says this will save lives, exactly how many lives were lost involving accidents with people with an alcohol level between 50mg and 80mg??
It’s a welcome law,now should we set up a private company to do roadside tests in the presence of a Gaurd ,and do all the paper work,and get the offender to pay for it
@Brian O Reilly: I realise the guards are not good enough at any of this, but for-profit businesses have no place in law enforcement.
Look at America where kids are going to jail for decades over an ounce of hash in their pocket, thanks to paid professional lobbyiests on behalf private prison operators and prison officer unions who campaign for, and get stronger, sentences for no other reason than to enrich themselves.
Ross and rabbite before him are proof of how easy it is to spout seemingly meaningful platitudes in opposition but be totally found out when you actually have the opportunity to do something. Ensure existing laws are enforced first then you might actually get a true picture of the problem. But no headlines in that.
Hopefully there will appear another hitch that will make Rossie unhappy. Not good to see that yoke happy.
Ross the traitor
Next thing the ex Mr Posh Ross blueshirt and present Blueshirts will want to regulate are our toilet movements but of course those who get up early in the morning will be exempt. This country is becoming unbearably stuffy
Most of the commenters here are playing the man, not the game. Ignorance run riot.
have your say