Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey’s plan to lower the drink-driving limit sparked outrage among backbenchers who represent rural communities. “The reality is,” one backbencher told The Mire, “that most of our constituents cannot go for a drink without driving and some of them cannot go for a drive without drinking.”

Several Cabinet members met with the irate backbenchers last night in an attempt to calm the situation. “Everyone in Europe has a lower limit than us and we don’t want to upset them in the current climate,” a Cabinet source said. “If Europe doesn’t want us drinking we have to give them the impression that we are not drinking.”

The deadlock between the two opposing sides was broken halfway through the sing song that followed their third Guinness sandwich. Cabinet members accepted a suggestion that the lower limit will go ahead but Gardai will not be allowed breathalyse people in rural areas unless

a they have been drinking with them for several hours or

b they give them 24 hours notice in the presence of a responsible publican

Backbenchers driving aimlessly around St Stephen’s Green this morning seemed pleased with the outcome but they will not vote on it until they sober up.