Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the first place, we will have to see how they deal with it because they are negotiating and we are hands off at the moment. I do not, however, want to see industrial relations problems in semi-State companies. Nor do I want to see something similar breaking out to what happened with Luas. I acknowledge the fact that the unions will be eyeing the settlements made in the Luas case. It may well be that the companies, in their fragile state, will find it difficult to meet those demands. The Department will talk to the NTA and CIE about these issues but not in a hands-on way.

The Deputy also asked about the Road Traffic Bill.

We are still hoping to get it to at least Second Stage in the Dáil before the summer recess. An amendment has been sent to the Attorney General on the issue of written-off cars. This goes back to the "Prime Time" programme and so on. It is hoped the amendment will be cleared in the next week or two and then we can put it to Committee Stage as well.

I am concerned about the number of road deaths. For many years the number of road deaths was reducing. The number is up by about 20% year-on-year this year. This is a matter of considerable concern and it may be that the trend has turned the other way. I launched a report and an RSA awareness campaign on the June bank holiday weekend to try to make people more careful. A notable aspect is that young people are beginning to drink and drive again, which is a serious development and one which people were not aware of. On top of that, the number of fatal accidents in which alcohol is an ingredient or a factor is beginning to rise to a high level again. There is a detection rate of alcohol in approximately 38% of fatal accident cases, which is high, and this is worrying.

We do not have comparative European figures. Neither do we have up-to-date figures. The report commissioned by the RSA covers up to the end of 2012. Anecdotal evidence is that the incidence of drink in fatal accidents is increasing. We have a problem on our hands which we must acknowledge. I had a meeting with representatives of the RSA, An Garda Síochána and others on Monday. They will have to act on this issue because it may be, as the Deputy stated, a result of fewer Garda resources and checkpoints. The Garda is getting together with the RSA to try to resolve the problem. I am not happy with the situation, we should be worried about it and we should take action as soon as possible.