A Waterford campaigner for the reform of Irish drink-driving laws, says proposals to give banned drivers an exemption to allow them drive to work, are disrespectful to bereaved families.

A report in the ‘The Sunday Business Post‘ suggested that the government is to look at whether those convicted could be given ‘limited licences’ in certain cases.

Officials have been asked to examine a system in operation in New Zealand, where a person can apply for a limited licence that would allow them to drive at specific times for specific reasons.

The Independent TD for Kerry, Michael Healy-Rae, outlined possible scenarios where exemptions from the current laws could occur:

“If they can make the case that their families are going to be detrimentally affected by the fact that they won’t be able to drive to work.,” he said as one potential scenario.

“If a permit style system was introduced whereby they could use their vehicles just for going from the point of home to work and back again and absolutely nowhere else, that should be a possibility that could be looked at,” he said.

Faithlegg woman Christina Donnelly, whose son Brendan was killed by a drunk driver in 2009, has been advocating loopholes in Irish legislation to be closed.

She says that the proposal flies in the face of recent legal reform adding that she didn’t expect the Minister to announce that he would consider the proposals.

Christina says she believes the proposals for limited licenses would be open to exploitation.

“It’s opened up a big can of worms. I’m sure I speak for all bereaved families and those who campaigned for safer legislation on our roads only four and a half months ago.”

She says Minister Shane Ross should stand behind recent reforms.

“What he should have been saying is ‘this is not how we operate in this country because we’ve lost too many families and too many people have been getting away with being over the limit for too long’.”