Michael Murphy, An Cathaoirleach: Good morning. The purpose of today’s meeting is to again discuss road safety. Regarding the format of the meeting, I will invite the witnesses in turn to make their opening statements. Once the opening statements have been delivered, I will then call members in the rota order to ask questions. I propose that we schedule a short comfort break, if everyone agrees, at the midway point at approximately 11 a.m., for five minutes and resume shortly thereafter.

On behalf of the committee, I am pleased to welcome the witnesses. From Alcohol Action Ireland, we have Dr. Sheila Gilheany, chief executive officer, Dr. Eoin Fogarty, consultant in emergency and retrieval medicine at University Hospital Cork and Alcohol Action Ireland board member, and Mr. Eóin Ryan, head of policy development and public affairs. From the Climate and Health Alliance, we have Dr. Sean Owens, chair; Dr. Caoimhe Clarke, consultant psychiatrist, psychiatry of old age at St. Vincent’s University Hospital; and Dr. John Legge, consultant in emergency medicine at St. Vincent’s University Hospital.

I remind witnesses of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of that person or entity. If their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside of the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I now invite Dr. Gilheany to make her opening statement on behalf of Alcohol Action Ireland.

Dr. Sheila Gilheany: Alcohol Action Ireland is the national independent advocate for reducing alcohol harm. We appreciate the opportunity to engage with the committee today on the issue of alcohol and road safety. As we all know, road deaths are rising in Ireland, reaching their highest level for over a decade in 2025. These tragic and devastating losses are not inevitable. Well-evidenced measures are available to address road safety issues. A key area to consider is the role of alcohol. Alcohol is a factor in at least a third of driver fatalities. In 2025, a survey by the Road Safety Authority, RSA, found that 12% of drivers admitted to drink driving in the past year. That 12% totals over 424,000 people. To put it another way, more than 1,100 per day are taking a lethal weapon onto our roads. That figure is also rising, up from 9% in 2021. Enforcement of the law can reverse this trend. The same RSA survey found that 75% of drivers think it unlikely they will be breathalysed, and they are right. Ireland has the lowest level of roadside breath testing in the EU. In 2021, just 18 tests per 1,000 inhabitants were carried out here. In France, that figure was 109, while the league was topped by Estonia, with a rate of 576 tests.

Another way of looking at the data is to consider arrests for drink driving. In 2007, there were 19,548 arrests but, for the past six years, arrests have plummeted to around 5,000 annually. This needs to change. In other countries, ambitious targets for breath testing are set. In Australia, for example, there is a target that every licensed driver should expect to be tested once annually. Most drivers in Ireland will say they have never been tested or, at most, have been tested once or twice in their lifetime. Publishing clear targets and assigning resources to ensure they are met is the most effective way of reducing alcohol-related deaths on our roads. In Australia, the level of driver fatalities with a positive alcohol test is 14%, compared with 35% in Ireland.

Prevention of drink driving is essential, but it is also important to consider what happens after the offence occurs. At present, 37% of drink driving court cases do not result in convictions. There must be a careful examination of the issues leading to this. In addition, we are aware that there are some cumbersome procedures that can result in offenders evading the law, particularly when it comes to the collection of blood samples from suspected drink drivers following a collision that results in hospitalisation. We propose that rather than having to wait for a Garda-appointed medical doctor, Ireland should introduce the Australian system whereby any emergency department doctor may take a sample and store it in a one-way safe to preserve the chain of evidence. We also propose that there should be an extension of the current three-hour window to take such samples. This is important particularly in rural areas where there can be a significant delay in bringing casualties to hospital. We also recommend that vehicles should be impounded at the time of a failed breath test, as is the case for uninsured vehicles.

We are also supportive of the introduction of the alcohol ignition interlock system, which is a personal alcohol breath-test device for drivers that automatically prevents a vehicle from starting if the individual is over the limit. We also strongly recommend that anyone arrested for drink driving should be facilitated to receive alcohol treatment, along with whatever penalties arise. This would require enhancement of service provision.

While it is perhaps beyond the scope of this committee, it is important to note that there is a real need for a cross-Government approach to road safety. For example, there is significant evidence that a 10% increase in alcohol prices is associated with a 7% reduction in road deaths.

Ireland's road safety record can be significantly improved by taking a number of very well-evidenced steps. We have a very ambitious Government target of reducing deaths on the roads to fewer than 72 deaths annually by 2030. Doing nothing about the major risk factor of alcohol is surely not an option if this target is to be achieved.

We are very happy to take any questions from the committee....

[Click here to read the full debate on the Oireachtas website]