Ms Verona Murphy:

The IRHA's experience is identical. We make representations on a number of issues. For instance, we have made representations to the Road Safety Authority about hedge cutting, which we believe to be one of the most serious issues in the country. That would seem a primary concern but it has never been dealt with. County councils deal with it on different levels. If a truck loses its mirror, the driver cannot see. While the cost of the mirror is fundamental to our operations, the road safety aspect is most concerning. We have written to the insurance companies because we want them to endorse the fact that hedge cutting has to become a primary road safety issue. It should be a primary, fundamental issue of road safety for the RSA, especially in rural areas. It is not even taken up. Again, we have made representations on the issue to the Minister for Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, and we expect to have a meeting with her. We are in the height of the hedge-cutting season. People do not even regard it as a road safety issue but it is fundamental to road safety, especially, as I said, regarding insurance claims.