A Kerry County Councillor has been defending his call for rural people to be given permits that would allow them to drink in moderation and drive afterwards.

The motion by Danny Healy-Rae was passed at a meeting yesterday by a margin of 5 votes to 3.

The rest of the councillors were either absent or abstained.

He says permit holders would have to keep their speed down and stick to infrequently used roads.

'Public transport is not the answer'

Mr. Healy-Rae is a publican himself and believes people in rural areas should be "treated differently to the other general public that have...more means of transport than these have".

Councillor Healy-Rae says providing public transport to and from the pub for these people is not the answer.

He spoke with Breakfast here on Newstalk.