Fine Gael has accused Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey of failing to tackle the high incidence of drink-driving and of lacking credibility on the issue.
Transport spokesman Fergus O'Dowd said the Government had failed to lower the alcohol limit for drivers from 80mg/100ml to 50mg/100ml despite expert recommendations that such a move had the potential to save more lives.
A garda checkpoint in operation
He said the limit had been reduced to 50mg/100ml all over Europe, except in Ireland and Britain and that the Government was failing to recognise best practice internationally.
But Mr Dempsey insisted the Government was committed to lowering the legal limit and that it was waiting to be advised by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) on what was the optimum level.
The row comes after it emerged the top civil servant in the Department of Health and Children criticised the RSA in a letter to his Department of Transport counterpart last year because the agency was not specifically urging a new alcohol limit for drivers.
"Setting a legal limit of 50mg/100ml will endorse the message that consuming alcohol and driving are a lethal cocktail resulting in tragic consequences for far too many individuals and families in this country," Department of Health secretary general Michael Scanlan told Department of Transport secretary general Julie O'Neill in a letter dated July 27th, 2007.
Although his department had been involved in consultations with the RSA about the new Road Safety Strategy 2007-2011, Mr Scanlan was "disappointed" that the 50mg/100ml level was not being recommended.
