Cabinet approves new drink-driving legislation
The Cabinet has approved new laws that will automatically ban all those caught drink driving from the roads.
Currently, first-time offenders are not necessarily disqualified and can pay a fine and get three penalty points.
Transport Minister Shane Ross said that this sends out the wrong road safety message.
Welcoming the decision to approve the General Scheme of a Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty – Drink Driving) Bill 2017, Minister Ross said: "The evidence shows that despite a perception to the contrary, drink driving continues to be a very serious issue in this country.
"We can no longer be ambivalent in our attitude toward this destructive practice."
"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. This is quite proportionate.
"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."
The Minister expressed his hope that this Bill can be passed quickly and without amendment.
Minister Ross added: "It is important to get it out there and working, and with it the message that drink driving will no longer be without serious consequences.
"This is an important step on the road to enacting what will be a focused, timely and urgently needed piece of legislation which will ultimately save lives."
The General Scheme will now be submitted to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for formal drafting, with a view to its publication as soon as possible.
In line with Government policy, the Minister will also refer the General Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport for its consideration.
