Fine Gael presidential candidate Heather Humphreys said she "absolutely supported" legislation introduced that saw the automatic disqualification for a period of all drivers found to be over the alcohol limit.
It comes as former minister for transport Shane Ross said it is "important" for people to know that Fine Gael presidential candidate Heather Humphreys was "absolutely opposed" to legislation to automatically disqualify all drivers over the alcohol limit.
Writing in the Sunday Independent last week, Mr Ross said Ms Humphreys should be challenged about her stance on drink-driving legislation while serving at Cabinet.
The Road Traffic Amendment Bill passed through the Oireachtas and was ultimately supported by Ms Humphreys in the Dáil vote.
Ms Humphreys addressed the matter while speaking in Athlone, ahead of attending a corporate lunch organised by Athlone Chamber of Commerce.
"Look, I absolutely supported that legislation. I voted for it on two occasions, and nobody should be drinking and driving. I think about all the families that have been impacted by accidents and lives have been lost. So as I say, Nobody should be drinking and driving," she said.
Ms Humphreys was asked if her position in relation to this issue had changed over the years.
"No, my position has always been very, very clear, people should not drink and drive because it causes accidents. And I had many discussions with Shane Ross on improving rural transport and investing more in our roads as well, because that improves safety on our roads is when you have better quality roads.
"And we know that there have been many lives lost on many roads throughout this country, and when safety measures are brought in, it reduces the risk of deaths on our roads," she said.
Ms Humphreys also said: "I respect the Constitution and I respect cabinet confidentiality."
Tánaiste Simon Harris also rowed in earlier, saying his former Cabinet colleague Shane Ross is incorrect in saying that Ms Humphreys was opposed to drink driving legislation.
Speaking to RTÉ's News At One, Mr Harris said he "does not recall" Ms Humphreys expressing any opposition to the legislation at the time.
"I genuinely don't recall those Cabinet discussions - though we're not meant to discuss them," he said
The Fine Gael leader said the legislation was "discussed and debated at length".
Mr Harris said voters expect their elected representatives "to question, to scrutinise, to prod, to probe, and then to make a decision".
"And ultimately, at the end of the day, this legislation was passed without dissent, in Shane Ross's words, from a Cabinet that Heather was in, and was voted on in Dáil Éireann twice, and she voted in favour of the legislation," he added.
Mr Ross said earlier that it was "absolutely legitimate" to say that people in rural Ireland do not have the same access to public transport as those in urban areas, but that does not justify allowing people to drive over the limit without disqualification.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said Ms Humphreys "made it clear" that she was opposed to the legislation.
"She made it clear at Cabinet meetings. The newspapers carried a large number of stories about it. I had contact with her about it before the meeting, I asked her to keep quiet at the Cabinet meeting and not to say anything in opposition to it," he said.
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"I'm not supposed to say what is said at Cabinet but I'm not reluctant to point you in the direction of reports of the Cabinet meeting at the time."
Mr Ross said that while the bill was backed in the end once it came through Cabinet, they were "whipped" into voting for it.
He said that if Ms Humphreys is going to be the next president, people are entitled to know where she stands on bills of that nature.
"And particularly, what her attitude was to drink-driving at the time, and why she was involved in an effort to sink the legislation," he said.
"I'm raising it because she is standing. She wasn't relevant three weeks ago. I'm raising it specifically because she is a candidate and I think it's a question on which she should be asked serious questions.
"In the end what matters is what she thinks now. I don't know whether she thinks what she felt in Cabinet or whether she thinks what she voted for. That's what I want to know - I want to know what she thinks now."
In a statement to Morning Ireland, a spokesperson for Ms Humphreys said the contention that she did not support the Road Traffic Act is untrue.
It said the Dáil record shows clearly that Ms Humphreys voted at second stage and at support stage in favour of the act on 18 January 2018 and 6 July 2018.
"Claiming that Heather Humphreys opposed the legislation doesn't stand up to the slightest scrutiny. The Constitution also sets out a responsibility of Cabinet confidentiality, which Heather Humphreys, at least, will respect."
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Zero tolerance when it comes to drink driving - Jim Gavin
Fianna Fail's Presidential candidate has said there needs to be "zero tolerance" when it comes to drink driving.
Mr Gavin was responding to reports from Mr Ross on Ms Humphreys being "absolutely opposed" to legislation to automatically disqualify all driver over the limit.
Speaking to the media today during a canvass in Kilkenny Mr Gavin said robust policies must be in place, saying there have been so many fatalities on the roads.
He also said Ms Connolly has more answers to give over the hiring of a woman to work in Leinster House who had been convicted of firearms offences.
He said while he agreed people needed to have a second chance in life, he said there are security concerns over giving access to Leinster House to those convicted in the criminal courts.
Asked about the upcoming weekend opinion poll and where he think he would place, Mr Gavin said he would be focussing on his campaign, saying the most important thing is who is ahead in three week’s time.
He described polls and the bookies odds as "outside noise".
He was also asked if he would make any changes to his debating style for this Sunday’s RTÉ TV debate.
He said he learned a lot from the first one, and said he was "really looking forward" to this weekend.
Mr Gavin was speaking following a visit to the Kilkenny SOS services.
He said as president he would convene a forum where he would invite in people with intellectual disabilities along with their carers and families to listen to the challenges they have.
He said this would be done to make the Áras inclusive. He also said he would set up internships for people with intellectual disabilities
Among its services, Kilkenny SOS operates a radio station.
At one point during his visit, he asked one of the DJ to play Abba’s ‘Take a Chance on Me.’
