Fianna Fáil TDs have privately criticized their colleague Malcolm Byrne for announcing his intention to introduce AI legislation in the coming weeks, deeming the move "very presumptuous" given his recent arrest on suspicion of drink driving.
Mr. Byrne, who resigned as chair of the Oireachtas AI committee following the arrest in May, emailed colleagues to notify them of at least two new pieces of legislation he "would hope to introduce" this term. The Mail has learned that the Wicklow-Wexford TD's announcement has drawn criticism from within his party, with some deputies suggesting he should "keep the head down" rather than drawing attention to himself.
Concerns have been raised regarding the timing of the proposed legislation, particularly in light of Mr. Byrne's upcoming court appearance on November 2. "Will he be proposing this before or after his pending court appearance, and two: will he even be in the PP [Parliamentary Party] at that point?" one Fianna Fáil TD questioned privately. "There is all these things that play into it. I just think he is being very presumptuous – that he’s basically getting away with this by proposing new Bills."
Some backbenchers expressed being "pissed off" over what they perceived as a "relaxed nature" in Mr. Byrne's approach to the issue. While Mr. Byrne acknowledged the "seriousness" of the matter in past statements when stepping down from his committee role, some colleagues believe he should be focusing on constituency work instead of making national-level policy announcements.
Mr. Byrne was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after failing a roadside breath test in Dublin city center around 5 a.m. He was reportedly traveling from a hotel to Dublin Airport for a flight to an AI conference in Germany. A urine test at a Garda station indicated he was almost two-and-a-half times over the legal alcohol limit. The TD agreed in a June statement to "face up to whatever happens."
According to An Garda Síochána, 190 people died on Irish roads last year, marking the deadliest year in nearly a decade. This year's figures indicate a similar trend, with 129 fatalities recorded to date, an increase of 15 compared to the same period last year.
Despite the criticism, some TDs noted that Mr. Byrne was "prolific" in his efforts to bring in stronger AI laws when he chaired the committee and suggested it would be more surprising if he were not pursuing legislation. Mr. Byrne remains an active member of the Oireachtas committee and has attended most meetings since resigning as chair.
Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has ruled out party sanctions against Mr. Byrne, stating there is "no precedent" for disciplining TDs for motoring offenses. Martin emphasized that accountability must occur through the courts, calling drink driving "unacceptable, completely."