A man who lost his daughter in a hit-and-run incident has hit out at comments by Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae.

Leo from Wicklow says his daughter, Marcy, was killed back in 2005.

Deputy Healy-Rae has called for the Government to introduce drink-driving permits for those living in rural areas.

The Independent TD made the suggestion in the Dáil on Thursday, saying the permits would help with rural isolation.

He said people living in rural Ireland are suffering from isolation and depression by not being able to go to the pub and have been "isolated in their homes like rabbits trapped in a burrow".

But Leo told Lunchtime Live a suggestion like this 'makes his blood boil', ahead of World Day of Remembrance For Road Traffic Victims on Sunday.

"Danny, you come along to Mullingar to Bloomfield Hotel on Sunday where we're having our World Day of Remembrance For Road Traffic Victims - and you'll see the isolation and the loneliness people have there.

"Even surrounded by family, we suffer that loneliness every single day - I've suffered that loneliness for the last 14 years."

"Fourteen years - people would tell you that time heals, and I'm telling you now it doesn't".

"When you lose a child, you have those memories but you've lost the future with that child.

"I'll never get to walk my daughter down the aisle, she'll never be able to become the midwife she wanted to become.

"Birthdays, Christmas - all these things, it plays on your mind all the time".

"No one has the right to put their life or anyone else's life in danger because they fancy one or two drinks".

"Every expert from the Gardaí, first responders, Drink Aware, the World Health Organisation will tell you one drink is a danger".

Referring to Mr Healy-Rae, he said: "My blood boils when I hear that man on the radio talking about stuff like this - and we all know he's biased.

"I'm biased because I've lost my daughter".

"Danny Healy-Rae - he is a publican - to me, he is a man building up the divide between rural Ireland and Dublin.

"He uses this as a tactic for his election campaign".

"Instead of protecting the rural pubs, he should be protecting people - the rural communities' lives".