Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the members of the Garda and the Road Safety Authority to the meeting. I wish to comment on the issue of tyres. I know from recent debate in the Dáil that there has been significant discussion with independent retailers and wholesalers. I am sure I am not the only person who would not have a clue about the quality of tyres. Instead, I trust implicitly the person from whom I buy my tyres. This trust has built up over years of dealing with the same person and, touch wood, nothing bad has happened. There is a major issue in regard to buying second-hand tyres. I was not aware that there is a difference between winter tyres and warm weather tyres. Perhaps some people would find that startling but I am sure I am representative of many drivers who feel that when they go to buy tyres, the person fitting the tyres will look after them. However, there is work to be done in that regard.

I feel strongly also about the other issue raised. As a recent and first-time parent, I have become aware that anybody who has to go and buy a child car seat is absolutely bamboozled by the variety of such seats available. I know from speaking to many young parents that cost is one of the main factors in determining what car seat they buy. I would encourage the RSA to do something on this issue, because each variety of seat is fitted differently and it is unlikely that a seat from one car will fit the base of the seat in another car. We talk about the European Parliament introducing a directive to provide for a universal adaptor for a mobile phone but we do not have similar provisions in respect of car seats.

I have a question for both the Garda and the RSA on the issue of speed detection and the number of summonses not being served on people in regard to penalty points. In the first three months of the year, approximately 5,000 fixed notices were not being served for one reason or another. Can we have an update on the position now? Another issue I have raised previously concerns the location of speed detection vans and I have been approached by members of the public regarding these being located on private property, in gateways and on private property off the sides of roads, like some sort of attempt to shoot fish in a barrel. I have come across an example of this on the route to Kerry. As one enters Abbeyfeale on the N21, a wide stretch of road with a 60 km/h speed limit, the speed van is there morning, noon and night. To be honest, it is there purely as a revenue-generating exercise. This sort of practice annoys people, that they see speed detection vans in locations that are not synonymous with fatalities but in locations where revenue can be generated. What is the Garda and RSA response to that?

Another issue I have raised previously is that of ludicrous speed limits. There are parts of the road from Abbeyfeale to Killarney and on to the Ring of Kerry that are too narrow for cars to overtake and in places it is barely wide enough for one car, yet the speed limit is 100 km. This is bonkers. Some of our speed limits are not in keeping with safety. On the flip side, some dual carriageways across the country have 80 km/h limits and speed detection vans on them raking in revenue. I understand there is a road safety issue in regard to speed, but there is frustration among the public that the measures introduced to save lives in regard to speed are now seen as just a revenue-generating exercise.