Time for publicans to show initiative in rural driving issue

By TONY GALVIN A MOYLOUGH councillor has suggested that instead of rural publicans bemoaning their loss of trade, they should be banding together and coming up with innovative schemes to get their customers to and from their pubs in safety. A levy on sales to subsidise cabs, getting the drinks companies to put some of their massive profits into supporting transport initiatives and sponsoring hackneys and taxis to take uneconomic runs, are just a few of the suggestions for consideration being put forward by Cllr Kevin Ryan.[private] Cllr Ryan said he is making his proposals in an effort to counter the negative publicity generated by the suggestion by his Kerry Co Council counterpart Danny Healy-Rae that 'drink-driving permits' be issued to rural dwellers to allow them drive home over the limit from local pubs. He told The Herald that he has discussed the matter with several of his Galway Co Council colleagues and they were embarrassed by the proposal. But of more concern for them are statements being issued by one of their fellow members, Cllr Michael â€ËœStroke' Fahy, endorsing the 'drink-driving permit' proposal. Dissociation Galway Co Council members moved to dissociate themselves from Cllr Fahy's public utterances at their monthly meeting on Monday. 'I want to disassociate myself from this so-called idea. It took a long time to reverse the carnage on our roads and this welcome trend was greatly helped by getting people to change their habits, especially where drink driving is concerned. 'People who have lost loved ones, friends and neighbours must be very disappointed with any public representative who would support such a ludicrous idea. I feel I should play my part by countering this silliness with some positive suggestions,' Cllr Ryan said. He suggests that publicans themselves, through the VFI, should get together and investigate how they might sponsor or fund safe transport to and from rural pubs. 'This could be done by subsidising either those providing the taxis or hackneys or by putting a levy on drinks which could go towards subsidising the cost of hiring transport. Customers might build up points in a credit-type system. This would probably work best at weekends, but it would pay for itself by encouraging more people to get out and socialise,' he explains. He added that instead of whining about how bad things are and about rural pubs closing, it is time for publicans to show some joined-up thinking. After all, it's their livelihoods that are at stake and it shouldn't be beyond them to look for positive ways of tackling their own problems. Cllr Ryan also feels strongly that if major drinks companies can spend huge sums on advertising and sponsorship, then they could play some role in assisting their customers to get out and support their products. 'I don't drink myself but I like to see people getting out and socialising. Many people don't leave home all week and it's healthy to get out and enjoy a night in company, especially for those living alone or carers. Instead of bemoaning the state of their businesses, it's time for publicans to show some business acumen of their own and put forward some suggestions. I don't know if my ideas will work, but at least it's a start,' he said. As for the Munster proposal, he thinks it must have been something dreamed up in the Kerry councillor's pub late at night, and Cllr Ryan's advice to them is, 'stick to the football, lads'.[/private]