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Garda traffic checkpoints on the Athgarvan Road in Newbridge, County Kildare this morning. Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews

Over 2,200 drivers caught speeding in one week as gardaí ramp up Christmas road safety campaign

More than 1,940 checkpoints carried out with around 504 vehicles seized for a range of offences.

MORE THAN 2,244 drivers were caught speeding on Irish roads in the past week, with one motorist in Wexford detected driving 100km/h over the speed limit.

The significant amount of speed offences come as gardaí have ramped up road safety enforcement operations in the period leading up to Christmas, when road users are at a heightened risk of being involved in a fatal or serious collision.

Three people have died on Irish roads over the last 7 days, while there have been 13 collisions that led to serious and life-threatening injuries for others.

Gardaí are conducting a dedicated road traffic enforcement operation over the Christmas period, which will continue until January 6th, 2025.

Over the past week, gardaí carried out over 1,940 checkpoints, both statutory Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) and regular, high-visibility policing checkpoints.

During the operation this week, one driver was clocked at 184km/h in a 80km/h zone on the R731 at Monamolin in Rathnure, Co Wexford.

Another motorist was detected travelling at 121km/h at a 50km/h zone in Ardcroney, Co Tipperary.

Over the past week, 178 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Gardaí said that around 504 vehicles have been seized for a range of offences, and 329 Fixed Charge Notices were issued to drivers for using a mobile phone.

To date, 167 people have lost their lives in road traffic collisions on Irish roads in 2024.

Gardaí have appealed to all those set to take to the roads over the Christmas period to slow down, take extra care and to give your driving your full attention.

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 12:37 PM

    Aldi is showing the way forward. Lidl as well.

    53
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    Mute Mike Scott
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 12:49 PM

    Was in Dunnes in Swords this morning! The special offers are few and far between! Prices are definitely creeping up again! And to top it all off, there’s hardly anyone working in it! Can’t wait for the new Lidl store to open!

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    Mute Lisa Saputo
    Favourite Lisa Saputo
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 12:57 PM

    It’s not surprising, a couple of years ago I was getting a decent weekly shop for €30-€40 now I am paying more like €60 a week. I like to shop around to ensure that Irish businesses get my money but I am beginning to think I should just stick with Lidl or Aldi.

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    Mute Ben Gunn
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 1:26 PM

    Lisa, if you want to help the economy you should shop for the best deal for you and your family. Ths will force reailers to try and attract your business by reducing prices and maintaining or improving quality.
    Lower prices will enable consumers to spread their into other sectors.

    29
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    Mute John Murphy
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 2:30 PM

    Ben while that is true, Tesco is known for forcing farmers to sell their produce at a crazy low price.
    While one could suggest why don’t they sell to the highest bidder. Tesco et al dictate price and if the farmer doesn’t sell at the price they have no one else to buy it.
    How can a farmer make a profit on the likes of lettuce when it’s being sold for 25cent.

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    Mute Fagan's
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 2:50 PM

    JFK said that Farming was the only industry where people have to buy supplies at consumer prices and sell the finished goods at wholesale prices.

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    Mute Mary Cull
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 6:24 PM

    Iceland food store is brilliantly fair cheap on everything.. Lidl is very reasonable too.. When it comes to loyalty I’m sorry but I can only afford the cheapest with all these damn taxes

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    Mute Andrew Paul
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 1:12 PM

    A few years ago it was almost shameful to be shopping in lidldi now it’s cool to do so!

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    Mute Fagan's
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 2:45 PM

    In Holland, you see Doctor’s stepping out of Lidl in to their Mercs. People off all classes shop there. Here there was the new money snobbery, there they just viewed it as getting food at a reasonable price. A smart thing to do. There is an awful lot of people here who regret the keeping up appearances bolloxology now.

    I would say thought that people should try to buy Irish if at all possible, the profits stay here, and they come back to you in wages, services jobs etc. A Euro spent on local produce is worth 2 to the economy.

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    Mute John Murphy
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 2:55 PM

    Excellent point Fagan. I lived in Aus for a year and they really pushed buying Aussie goods.
    We should try do the same.
    Eddie Hobbs has us all believing everything Irish is a rip off. Having been to Aus and Finland among other countries I can honestly say Ireland Is not a rip off.

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    Mute Steve Jackman
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 4:39 PM

    It will never be cool.

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    Mute Hugh O Connell
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 5:09 PM

    Agreed a few years ago there were so many people going around as though their $h1t did not stink and would not be seen near a lidl or aldi store, now times are different and reality bites, these large stores do offer good value but not on everything, people should learn to mix n match between local stores and the big multiples and spread their spend around, here in mainland europe small food retailers work alongside larger multiples and offer good value service & quality produce its a win win in relation to the customer, back to basics is the way forward

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    Mute Anne Kerins
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 1:32 PM

    Try to shop local as much as I can, hate to see so much money leaving the country especially making the German economy stronger and ours getting weaker by the day, just my point of view

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    Mute John Murphy
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 2:28 PM

    I agree. I try and shop in Dunnes as much as possible and I like the fact Dunnes tell you how many Irish goods you buy on their receipt.

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    Mute Jean Kelly
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 6:29 PM

    where I live there is a Lidl, Supervalu, Tesco, Dunnes, Iceland & Aldi prob inside a square mile. Out of all of them it is Aldi for me. One of the reasons I shop in Aldi is the amount of Irish food, all most all their meat is from quality assured Irish farms, the crisp isle is mostly all Snackrite, which is made by Largo food (Tayto). loads of bread there is Irish, and actually nice unlike Lidl bread (not taking about their bakery) Heaps of Taste awards, and Blas na Eireann awards. really good quality Irish foods at great prices, specially selected sausages taste like superquinn ones. The say they try to stock as much Irish fruit n veg as they can, milk cheese yogurt eggs all Irish the mark all their Irish products with the tri-colour so its very easy to do a completely Irish shop. (I don’t work for Aldi :) )

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    Mute John Murphy
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 1:20 PM

    The decline is due to the increase in cost.
    Guys and girls. Prices are going to rise a lot more .
    Oil is up. Our food is grown in petro chemicals ,transported in trucks and wrapped in plastics .
    On top of that there is increased demand for food worldwide.
    Tesco et al will not be able to hide price increases for too long and I have to agree with the above comments. I think the special offers are getting scarce. Especially for actual items you would use.

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    Mute Derek Durkin
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 1:31 PM

    Not to sound like a broken record here but banks and hedgefunds have a huge part to blame in rising food prices. Morally and ethically wrong to be speculating on food prices but hey whats new.

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    Mute John Murphy
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 2:28 PM

    It’s very morally wrong.

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    Mute valerie mcglynn
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 7:33 PM

    I work in a small fruit and veg shop…probably the only one around for miles because most have closed their doors, each morning we’re at the market, buying the freshest produce so customers are guaranteed high quality food, when in season, we get loads of produce from local growers. The big supermarkets have a few items cheaper, but on the whole, I’d say we’re cheaper in the long run. And everything is totally fresh, unlike supermarket stuff which is in cold storage for weeks. Support your locality, best for everyone.

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    Mute Layla Moroney
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 11:42 PM

    My husband was made redundant from a wonderful supplier in fruit markets dublin, it was so sad to see a family business close after 60 odd years:-( i hope your fruit and veg shop sees the tough times through! :-)

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    Mute William Mcgee
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    Apr 2nd 2012, 5:44 PM

    One would not wonder why people are staying away they are going the same way as the publicans for years when trade fell back they increased their prices to make up for the loss of trade , now I have noticed the supermarkets are increasing prices, a rise of about 16 percent on a lot of items over the last 6 months, I for one leave it on the shelf and when it does not sell it is reduced for a few days to try and get rid of old stock, then is the time to buy, they should know that the customers are on a tight budget this day and age. as we are been robbed left right and centre by the government of the day.

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