Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What we plan to do in the coming years on road safety is outlined in the strategy which contains approximately 140 actions. They all relate to education, engineering and enforcement. Road safety is largely a domestic competence and I would prefer not to see the European Union getting too involved in domestic road traffic legislation as it affects speed limits. It is up to every country to do this for itself. The European Union is very involved in setting vehicle standards and licensing. We are generally supportive of anything which raises vehicle standards to make vehicles safer. We do not like to impose too many standards which are specific to Ireland because it creates many distortions such as in the second-hand car trade. What is being introduced at EU level is eCall, a system being introduced in new cars. It will mean that if a car crashes, it can call the emergency services. Such measures are discussed a great deal at EU level. Introducing alcolocks or interlocks in all vehicles might be a step too far at this stage, but in the road safety strategy we are considering the courts imposing them. If somebody has penalty points or a conviction for drink-driving, use of an alcolock could be imposed. It might also makes sense in the case of commercial vehicles such as buses and trucks. By and large, I would prefer to see such measures decided at national level.