Former Fianna Fáil minister Jim McDaid has admitted to and apologised for drink-driving on the Naas Road on Tuesday night.
Dr McDaid was stopped by gardaí and taken to Naas Garda station for a blood or urine sample. A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
It was reported last night that the Donegal North East deputy was on his way from Punchestown Races, and that he was stopped after entering the wrong lane at a location where road works were taking place. This could not be confirmed last night.
Dr McDaid admitted to the offence in a statement yesterday. "I wish to unreservedly apologise for my serious lapse in behaviour last night," he said. "It was completely wrong of me to drive a car while under the influence of drink. This will now be a matter for the gardaí to deal with.
"I know that as a public representative I have a particular obligation to uphold the law. I wish to apologise to my family, my constituents and to the gardaí."
Dr McDaid launched the Christmas campaign against drink driving in 2002, and as minister of state for transport from 2002 to 2004 was responsible for road traffic. Last July at an Institute of Road Safety conference, he noted that "significant levels of speeding, drink-driving and non-compliance with seat-belt wearing still exists".
His statement admitting the offence came just hours after the Taoiseach had appealed to motorists to "drive with safety and with respect for others".
Responding in the Dáil to complaints from Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny about the shortage of speed cameras in the State he said the Government was taking many measures to improve road safety.
Progressive Democrat Senator Tom Morrissey issued a statement last night criticising the slowness of the implementation of the Government's road safety strategy. A party spokeswoman said the statement had been in preparation before the news concerning Dr McDaid emerged and was not related to it. Senator Morrissey said that while road safety measures cost money, each road fatality cost the State some €2 million.
"We all know that road deaths are about lives lost and families destroyed", he said. "However there is also the cold reality of the cost to society." He said the Department of Finance should start seeing road safety not just as a cost outlay. "If they want to treat things in purely financial terms then they must see the financial benefits of saving lives."