Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will begin with Deputy Dooley's questions. Most of the matters relating to the recognition of penalty points within different countries are being handled on a bilateral basis at the moment. There are different systems in place in different countries. At the moment I am prioritising how we deal with this issue between ourselves and the United Kingdom. The details will be contained in the road traffic Bill, which I hope will be published before the end of this year.

Deputy Dooley made the point that we are dealing with a different phase of the humanitarian difficulties in Calais and Dover, as opposed to the end of them, and I agree with him. Certainly, I have no wish to indicate that I believe the matter has come to an end. Of course it has not; it is ongoing. As Deputy Dooley has said, for a number of different reasons it is in a different phrase of intensity compared to earlier this year.

Deputy Dooley made a point on the role of training schemes and how they might lead to reductions in the number of penalty points issued. He has raised this matter in recent days. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have to consider all measures that could make a difference. My initial reaction is that I have no wish to put anything in place that could lead to a reduction in the genuine deterrent that the system of penalty points offers. Anyway, Deputy Dooley made a point about the need for further study. I believe the matter should be looked at and it certainly will be.

We have discussed the question of the interface between drones and civil aviation. I agree with Deputy Dooley that we are going to have to deal carefully with this matter, because we will see more of these units in future. It is going to require more work and focus.

Deputy Fleming put several points to me. If an area does not have an active retirement group, I imagine the Road Safety Authority would try to find a different way of making that information available. Deputy Fleming asked how we could extend this in schools. As he said, the first phase will involve pupils between the ages of 13 and 16 years.

Deputy Fleming raised the question of information on roadside drug testing. When we publish the Bill I hope to be in a position to give this information to the Deputy through the explanatory memorandum.

Deputy Fleming made another point about the role of drones in the work of the Garda Síochána. By virtue of the fact that these units can move quickly and operate efficiently, they could well play a role in future. Obviously, that is a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Garda Commissioner.

Deputy Fleming also referred to articulated lorries and the spray effect. I will mention the matter to the Road Safety Authority. I imagine this is one reason the RSA has a focus on the need for a safe distance between vehicles, so that when the spray is generated it is does not immediately get in the way of or reduce the visibility of drivers.

Deputy Fleming put a point to me on airspace. Sovereign airspace has a 12 mile limit around the jurisdiction, our country. We have no evidence at the moment of incursions into sovereign airspace. Of course, activity proximate or adjacent to our airspace is monitored by the Irish Aviation Authority. I am keen to relay to Deputy Fleming that we have no evidence of incursions into the airspace of our country, our sovereign airspace.

Senator Mooney put a question to me relating to the roll-out of Leap cards. We sold the millionth Leap card earlier this year. The next phase of the development of Leap cards will be through their roll-out in cities throughout Ireland, particularly through integration with the systems of Bus Éireann. That is the way we are going to do it and we have plans in place. This is purely a matter of national competence. Any discussions that take place in the European Union relate only to information sharing rather than anything else.