Independent Ireland leader blasted by Kildare rep over drink-driving comments

The leader and co-founder of Independent Ireland has been criticised by a local rep from County Kildare over comments he made which related to drink-driving.

Cork South-West TD Michael Collins, who also co-founded Independent Ireland, made the comments during an interview with The Journal which was published on December 29 last.

In the interview, he was asked whether or not his party would push to loosen drink-driving legislation laws.

Responding to the question put to him, Deputy Collins said that it isn’t one of their policies.

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He further said: "I don’t believe in people drinking three, four, five or six pints and driving home... that’s not on, but certainly there was a position in life where people sat in a bar for two or three hours because they needed a little bit of company, and they drank a couple of pints.

"And now they can be caught for drink-driving going home, and that’s shocking difficult for people."

When Deputy Collins was asked whether he thinks it is safe for people to drink two pints and drive, Collins said: "I’d say so."

He added: "I wouldn’t be advising people to do it, but I know if you’re inside in a bar for two or three hours and drinking two pints, you’re [doing it] over a period of time... but look, as I said, it wasn’t in our policies."

BACKLASH

The comments from Deputy Collins have prompted criticism from the Irish Road Victims Association (IRVA), according to a report from KFM.

And another critic who has voiced their disapproval over the Deputy's comments is Social Democrats councillor Chris Pender, who described them as "a bad message; full stop."

The Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District Cllr elaborated: "There is no magic number of drinks that makes driving safe; two pints is not safe for a lot of people.

"Some would be over the limit, others would be impaired and still think they are fine.

"Here is the reality: the legal limit is 0.05. For learner, novice and professional drivers it is 0.02."

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Cllr Pender continued: "Body size, food, time, and drink strength all matter. Alcohol slows reactions even below the limit.

"This is how people get killed on our roads; this is how families are torn apart.

"That is why the IRVA spoke out, [because] they know what these messages lead to.

"If you are in public office, your words carry weight... when you play down drink driving, people take risks, [and] when people take risks, innocent people pay the price."

He further said: "The message should be simple, drink or drive, never both.

"Anything softer than that is irresponsible."

Cllr Pender concluded: "Our roads deserve better; you deserve better."

Deputy Collins was contacted for comment by the Leinster Leader in relation to Cllr Pender's post.

However, he did not respond in time for publication of this article.

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender. File photograph

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Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.