Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Has it gone up to three now? It was only two when I got them on a Christmas Eve for driving at 53 km/h in a 50 km/h speed zone on my way home with my Santa Claus gifts.

It is sad to hear 166 families this year alone have lost loved ones, and I know a few families personally who have lost loved ones. I note that one in five, or 20%, of those killed on our roads in 2013 was not wearing a seatbelt. Those are startling and alarming figures. I was going to call Ms O'Donnell "Minister" but she is not a Minister now although she might be again.

The issue of national schools is a hobby horse of mine. Many of our national schools are located on very busy roads. I instance one school in Kildare that has five different signs alerting motorists to slow down passing the school. I took photographs of the signs. There are flashing lights and four or five signs on either side of the road outside the school but the only way to slow the traffic was to put down speed bumps. It should be a policy of every local authority where national schools are located on busy routes to contemplate the installation of speed bumps to safeguard children exiting buses or cars, or crossing a busy road to enter school. Unless such provision is made these locations are an accident waiting to happen.

I congratulate Ms O'Donnell on her appointment and wish her every success. She is well qualified for it and, as the Chairman said, she will have big shoes to fill. I acknowledge Mr. Gay Byrne's contribution to the NRA over the years.