Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In recent weeks, a great deal of concern has been expressed about the appalling carnage on our roads. I note the recent comments of Gay Byrne, who has done a lot of work. Along with the former Minister, Noel Dempsey, and the Road Safety Authority, he has had great success in reducing the number of deaths in road accidents over a number of years. The Government is proposing to introduce a new road traffic Bill to provide for further measures in respect of road safety. I understand from the Government's legislative document that the publication of this Bill is expected in 2015. It seems to me that the Government needs to display far greater urgency with regard to the issue of road safety. It is losing its grip and the statistics are going the wrong way. We need to beef up the resources that are available for road safety and provide for the legislative back-up that is required and has been identified by the Government in the context of this Bill. The Taoiseach might indicate when he expects the Bill in question to be published. Is there any possibility that this might happen earlier than originally predicted by the Government?

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