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Kerry CC support permit system which allows rural people drink and drive

UnknownSpecies

I can't believe this. I didn't think that this country could become any more backward. People need to stop voting for these idiots.

Kerry County Councillors have backed a motion calling for a permit system to be introduced which would allow rural people drink in moderation and drive.
The motion from Councillor Danny Healy-Rae was passed this afternoon five votes to three with the remainder of the 27 councillors either absent from the vote or abstaining.
The four councillors who voted for the motion along with Cllr Healy-Rae are Michael Cahill, Johnny Healy-Rae, Bobby O’Connell and Michael O’Shea.
Cllr Healy-Rae is calling on the Minister for Justice to bring in legislation which would allow Gardai issue permits to people living in isolated rural areas.
These permits would allow people drive home from their nearest pub after having two or three drinks on little used roads, according to the councillor.
They would also have to drive at very low speeds.
Cllr Healy-Rae who is a publican says the permits could be issued at the discretion of local Gardai.

http://www.radiokerry.ie/news/kerry-county-councillor-support-permit-system-which-would-allow-rural-people-drink-in-moderation-and-drive/

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Going Forward

His idea is off the wall, but:

The essence of what he said was fairly spot on: that he is unaware of any fatal or serious accidents on relatively quiet back roads caused by people with a few pints on board.

We have become hysterical in this country regarding drink driving, having all arrived at the general consensus that mature (40-65yrs) adults who are used to taking an occasional drink will be unable to control a car on a boreen (L road, max 4 miles from home, from a designated pub) at slow speeds (50kph) after drinking 4 or 5 units. (And the likes of Ray Darcy trying to get one up on him in a tantrum this morning makes Darcy look worse!)

People have done it for years on the back roads with little problems, we've all been stuck behind someone driving slowly, cautiously and nervously home- probably excersing more care than they do with their regular daytime driving.

Not much to date has been spoken of the sheer coincidence which is:
that these quieter current times as opposed to the wild Celtic Tiger years (as characterised by the general selfish, gung-ho attitude all round, including driving) have yielded a significant reduction in road fatalities.

sock puppet

Going Forward wrote: »

Not much to date has been spoken of the sheer coincidence which is:
that these quieter current times as opposed to the wild Celtic Tiger years (as characterised by the general selfish, gung-ho attitude all round, including driving) have yielded a significant reduction in road fatalities.

What on earth are you talking about? Road fatalities have been falling for decades.

Laneyh

Going Forward wrote: »

His idea is off the wall, but:

The essence of what he said was fairly spot on: that he is unaware of any fatal or serious accidents on relatively quiet back roads caused by people with a few pints on board.

We have become hysterical in this country regarding drink driving, having all arrived at the general consensus that mature (40-65yrs) adults who are used to taking an occasional drink will be unable to control a car on a boreen (L road, max 4 miles from home, from a designated pub) at slow speeds (50kph) after drinking 4 or 5 units. (And the likes of Ray Darcy trying to get one up on him in a tantrum this morning makes Darcy look worse!)

People have done it for years on the back roads with little problems, we've all been stuck behind someone driving slowly, cautiously and nervously home- probably excersing more care than they do with their regular daytime driving.

Not much to date has been spoken of the sheer coincidence which is:
that these quieter current times as opposed to the wild Celtic Tiger years (as characterised by the general selfish, gung-ho attitude all round, including driving) have yielded a significant reduction in road fatalities.

Question: Is there a very high incidence of drink driving prosecutions in South Kerry? Are there constant garda stinger operations being carried out down there ?

If not what is the need for a permit / exemption from the law ?
I do not believe the ordinary pub going people of South Kerry are the targets of some campaign to destroy their way of life.
If all they have to save them from suicide is the pub then they have bigger issues than drink driving laws.

How are these permits to be issued? If being a resident is all that is needed to qualify then surely all of the boy racers and people who never use the pub will also be exempt.
Whether they can handle their drink or not is immaterial.

I imagine garda discretion is already used quite liberally in cases where they do stop someone. Its not really in the interests of a rural guard to alienate a good section of the community.If they stop some old duffer on his way home and he is legally over the limit but in control of his car chances are he'll get off with a warning.

I don't think it is a good idea to provide certain people with exemption from the law. Especially, when it would appear that you're relying on them to be self-regulating.

In other words what makes them so special ?

Its a pathetic thing to be lobbying about when there are pensioners freezing to death and unable to afford food.
I don't even know where the nearest hospital or amenity is to Kilgarvan
Likewise, I've no clue about the garda station but I'm guessing there isn't one in Kilgarvan

If the council really wanted to combat rural isolation they would work with local sports and community groups to rebuild a sense of community and provide services to the local residents.

He can use the pub as a social centre for these community events and make a few bob out of it for himself - which is clearly all that he is interested in.
He / they can do this without encouraging people to break the law or lead them to think that the law doesn't apply to them.

Irrespective of whether they've ever had an accident handing out exemptions is not going to end well.
The rural boundaries will keep getting revised and many more serious drink driving offences would end up being quashed.

omega666

MadsL wrote: »

I'd be in favour of it, however with the kicker that anyone who does have this permit is given a milkfloat that is painted bright orange. This is their only form of transport they are allowed. It is restricted to 7.5 mph and has six flashing warning lights on it. It also has a sign on the side saying "I'm a selfish cunt"

Let's see how many want a permit then.

As a suggestion, I notice that my local county can charge me with DUI for riding a horse drunk (quite a rural horse-y area) but I can legally ride a donkey home shitfaced. Perhaps we should put these donkeys on donkeys to get home.

In fairness speeding is the biggest single cause of road deaths.
Are people who speed bigger donkeys than drink drivers??

ProudDUB

Going Forward wrote: »

We have become hysterical in this country regarding drink driving, having all arrived at the general consensus that mature (40-65yrs) adults who are used to taking an occasional drink will be unable to control a car on a boreen (L road, max 4 miles from home, from a designated pub) at slow speeds (50kph) after drinking 4 or 5 units.

No we are not becoming hysterical. The idea that these elderly gents who drive after having taken drink, but are no harm to anyone in nonsense imo.

Take my father for example. As a young and middle aged man, he rarely drank. He worked 2 jobs all his life to take care of his family. He was far too involved with his family and charities and sports teams to be going down the pub with the lads. As a result, he never built up any tolerance of alcohol. He'd be termed someone who couldn't hold his drink. (I imagine it is the same with a lot of rural farmers who for most of their working lives were far too busy taking care of the farm to be regular pub goers. No? )

That all changed when my dad retired. He loved going to the pub of an evening, and becoming one of the local wise men. He was fine after one pint. At the end of pint #2, his speech became slightly slurred. At the end of pint #3 he'd become seriously drowsy. Give him even a drop of the hard stuff, and it was even worse. But could you tell him that he couldn't hold his liquor? No you couldn't because like most Irish men of a certain age and generation, you couldn't tell him a damm thing about the all the so called manly rituals of drinking. He was convinced that he was fine and was no threat to anyone. I loved my father dearly. He was a very, very good man, but there is no way in hell that would I want to come across him in a car on an unlit, country boreen, in driving rain and icy conditions, after he had had pint #3. No way !

This idea that elderly drinkers are harmless because they know their own limits, or that they can hold their booze, or that its no big deal coz all the driving is done on isolated roads is bull$hit imo. Sure there may be some of them that can drive safely from A to B after a few pints. But there is no way to judge it, and quantify it and separate the men from the boys, when it comes to alcohol tolerance levels & driving ability. Add in well intentioned but flawed men like my dad, their tolerance levels of alcohol or lack thereof, their age, the medications that they may be on that may react badly with alcohol, the impairment of sight and reflexes that affects us all as we get older, and I think that a very dangerous picture emerges.

That is not being hysterical. That is just adding up the facts as I see it, and coming to a conclusion that no one, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY should be getting behind the wheel of a car when they have drink taken. I can not for the life of me see how anyone can think that that is a good idea, ever. And no, I am not some urbanized Dub, who has no idea how bad the problem of rural isolation is. I have family members who live in very isolated parts of Ireland. I know all about how hard their problems are, but handing them a pint of Guinness along with the car keys is NOT the way to solve them imo !

LiamoSail

omega666 wrote: »

In fairness speeding is the biggest single cause of road deaths.
Are people who speed bigger donkeys than drink drivers??

Speed maybe a factor, but its not the cause. Perception, reaction time etc or there lack off are bigger factors IMO, both of which are reduced by drink

Driving at high speeds is safe once the environment is suitable, driving under the influence of drink isn't, end off

oldyouth

So it seems that Kerrymen living in isolated areas would rather stay at home and develop depression than go to the local pub to chat with their mates, play cards/darts and have a few bottles of Coke.

All the jokes I've heard in the past might have a grain of truth in them after all

Biggins

Here’s how the world reacted to the Kerry drink-driving story.

http://www.thejournal.ie/drink-driving-kerry-reaction-765371-Jan2013/

robinph

They have just covered this on BBC breakfast with an interview with Healy-Rae. Looked like he was just there to confirm the stereotype of Irish being drunken idiots... He did that job very well.

Peanut2011

robinph wrote: »

They have just covered this on BBC breakfast with an interview with Healy-Rae. Looked like he was just there to confirm the stereotype of Irish being drunken idiots... He did that job very well.

Listened to him on the Today FM last evening... MY GOD!!! He shoudl have been banned from public speaking.

iregk

I'm assuming this has been said in 19 pages that I'm not going to pour through. It's a pretty sad reflection on our society and country as a whole if we can't cope without alcohol. Can't have a drink, commit suicide. Personally I don't drink but I don't think anything bad of friends or family that do so I'm not anti alcohol. I simply don't buy the arguments made by the publicans.

Claiming that suicide is on the increase because elderly men in rural areas can't get to the pub to socialise. Well are they going there for the company and to socialise or to drink? If it's purely to be social then why can't they drink coke, lucozade, tea such as many like myself do? If it's for alcohol then aren't they simply doing it at home? So what do they place more importance on, alcohol or being social?

CruelCoin

To those who would uphold the ban on drink driving on the basis that it weakens your senses/perceptions:

Would you be ok with a ban on people driving who are bursting for a piss, have a cold/flu, are 80+ years old,

Peanut2011

CruelCoin wrote: »

Would you be ok with a ban on people driving who are bursting for a piss, have a cold/flu, are 80+ years old,

That is the same as asking "for those who would destroy the burgers cos they have a horse meat in them, would you also throw them if it was rats meat in them or ****e"

If drink driving was the same as driving when you are bursting or have a cold / flu maybe we should just ban driving all together!

Some of the arguments posted here really stretch the imagination!

kowloon

Any links to any of the interviews?

Chairman Meow

What an effing surprise to find out that Healy-Rae is a pub owner. Un-****ing believable. "I want to put lives at risk to make a few quid". F*cking selfish c*nt.

GLaDOS

CruelCoin wrote: »

Would you be ok with a ban on people driving who are bursting for a piss, have a cold/flu, are 80+ years old,

Whatever about the other scenarios, someone with a full on flu should definitely not be driving imo

iregk

Also CruelCoin I'm all in favour of once you pass the age of 70 you should have to take an eye test every 2 years to keep your license and resit your test every 5 years. It is completely accepted that old age drivers are less responsive to road incidents and also the eye sight isn't as good. Then again, we are off topic somewhat.

Also a cold and flu are not the same thing! Are you in favour of banning people who drive drunk or those that wear pink shoes?

[Deleted User]

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Whatever about the other scenarios, someone with a full on flu should definitely not be driving imo

There is nothing stopping them though, same as tiredness which has been shown to be worse than being around the old drink driving limit.

Who wakes up after a bad nights sleep and says, "no work for me today, I'm not safe to drive in".*

*I'm not advocating drink driving at all just making the point that there are a lot of things that impair driving, which are probably occur much more often that drink driving.

L.Jenkins

This seriously has to be a joke to be honest. Providing certs to drivers so they may increase their drink drive limit for the sake of rural pubs. I'm sure if having a few drinks in a local was that important to people, they'd arranage a mini-bus or some other way of getting home.

Old_-_School

kowloon wrote: »

Any links to any of the interviews?

A couple up here including one with the Godfather himself.
http://www.youtube.com/user/irishexaminer

TeddyTedson

I've got the answer I think. We should be allowed take a driving text while intoxicated. There could be different levels of an intoxicated license you could apply for. For example there could be the 5 pints in two hours license.
You'd obviously have to drink supplied pints in the test center over the course of the two hours. Then you'd take to the road as you would a sober test sitting.
If you pass the test, you are from then on allowed to drive for the rest of your life with 5 pints consumed within two hours. If you fail you could of course try again another Saturday.

wicorthered

If I was in the traffic corps in Kerry I know where my check points would be for the next few weekends!!!

L.Jenkins

wicorthered wrote: »

If I was in the traffic corps in Kerry I know where my check points would be for the next few weekends!!!

You can be sure the company responsible for speed cameras are foaming at the mouth upon reading this and have beaten you to it.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

A thought to me occured: can people drink drive in Dublin, too?

I mean, the idea of not being able to get home via public trasnport at midnight on a Wednesday night is not something limited to the country, to be honest...

L.Jenkins

While the Kerry CC might vote to present such a motion, I don't see it catching on to be honest. I'm suprised I haven't seen or heard from the RSA yet, but I'm not dismissing the idea that have made a statement already.

Czarcasm

TeddyTedson wrote: »

I've got the answer I think. We should be allowed take a driving text while intoxicated. There could be different levels of an intoxicated license you could apply for. For example there could be the 5 pints in two hours license.
You'd obviously have to drink supplied pints in the test center over the course of the two hours. Then you'd take to the road as you would a sober test sitting.
If you pass the test, you are from then on allowed to drive for the rest of your life with 5 pints consumed within two hours. If you fail you could of course try again another Saturday.

^^ Not sure if serious?

Anyway, I can understand suicide related isolation, but clearly healy-rae can't.

Here's a clue- alcohol consumption will only exacerbate the problem!

If healy-rae (and the idiot councillors who both supported him, and those who abstained from voting no because they didn't have the balls to stand up to the idiot) actually cared about coming up with a viable solution to suicide caused by isolation, the last thing he should be doing is facilitating and encouraging them to get down the pub and consume alcohol.

The whole thing just smacks of an opportunist publican who upon seeing his business dwindling tries to come up with something that won't sound like he cares more about his business than his constituents. Drink driving is illegal, and for good reason. One can introduce all the anecdotal evidence they want of Paddy that can "drive home after ten pints", but the figures bear out the facts.

And for those that claim the elderly are more socially isolated in remote country areas- you can be a young person living in the heart of Dublin city and still feel socially isolated. Allowing you to drive home drunk is only accommodating the symptoms and failing to address the real issues involved in why a person might feel that way.

JustinDee

Next action taken should be an absolute clampdown on drink driving in said region. Checkpoints, breath tests at gates of GAA and golf clubs and a strict enforcement of closing time. Take them to the bloody cleaners. Any community service dished out with fines should entail maintenance of graves of people who have been killed on those roads.

Just forget about a drink for a change. Everything revolves around pints in this country. No wonder there are Irish jokes galore and people outside think we're stupid. Buttnuggets like this alleged representitive and his idiot supporters will see that this reputation sticks. It is serving no-one but the publican, which he himself happens to be.

CruelCoin

iregk wrote: »

Also a cold and flu are not the same thing! Are you in favour of banning people who drive drunk or those that wear pink shoes?

Are those pink shoes stillettos which can slip easily off the pedals?

Then yes, i would ban pink shoes.

TeddyTedson

The idea of treating depression from isolation with a drug which itself has depressive effects is particularly ingenious.

Another idea would be to just ban alcohol in this country and be done with it. Although I can't see that motion being passed by many TDs anytime soon.

Why can't people be more imaginative and find other activities that drink driving.

summerskin

Either way, I'll be fûcked if I'm going to walk home in the rain or freezing cold when I've only had about 5-7 pints. It's fine in summer but bollocks to it in winter!