Complaints that some non-national motorists drink alcohol while they are driving on Irish roads are being investigated, it emerged today.
Gay Byrne, chairman of the Road Safety Authority, said the body is are working in co-operation with the gardaí on claims of a drink driving culture among some non-Irish nationals.
Gay Byrne, chairman Road Safety Authority
But the veteran broadcaster stressed that he always treated such allegations with scepticism in the absence of any proper research or official figures.
"There is some indication that with some of the other nationalities, that just as there is a culture of speed here, there is also a huge culture of speed and drink driving in those nationalities," he said.
"And we are trying to - in co-operation with the Garda Síochána, who are the only ones who can police such a situation - we're trying to find out if that is true."
Mr Byrne was speaking at the launch of the MACE cycling safely to school campaign after a weekend of seven road deaths, in which four of the victims were foreign nationals.
The road safety chief insisted there was as many home grown bad drivers as there were coming in to the country.
But he said the RSA had heard complaints about a prevalence of drink driving among some nationalities.
"The suggestion has been made that they tend not only to drink before driving but they actually drink while driving. They like to have drink with them when they're driving," he said.
"This is horrendous of course and simply not allowable. But I don't think there is any particular trend there that we can spot at the moment."
Mr Byrne said there remained a culture of speed among Irish drivers that is not being altered by any road safety campaigns.
"There's a whole generation of people in this country who simply will not get the message we are putting out. In particular, they will not get the message on speed," he said.
"Unfortunately the only way we can get to those people is by punishment rather than education. They are too far gone now to try to educate them or change their attitudes so they have to be punished."
The RSA chairman downplayed speculation about his resignation over the Government's delay in rolling out a widespread system of speed cameras.
But he said his vow, when he took up the post, to leave the job if he continues to come up against political hurdles still stands.
PA