Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Troy cannot be here today and sends his apologies. Fianna Fáil take road safety very seriously. We have taken many steps through policy and legislation to try to address and change behaviour over the years. That is evident from the establishment of the Road Safety Authority, the campaigns that were put in place in that regard and the halving of annual road deaths between 2005 and 2015. In the past two or three years, there has been some regression in terms of the progress being made. However, much of that comes down to the fact that it is important to take road safety seriously, to approach it on an evidential basis in terms of the rationale for measures and to ensure there is enforcement of the laws that are in place. In 2010, Fianna Fáil brought forward legislation to reduce the alcohol limit and put in place the current structure of a gradated penalty regime ranging from fixed penalty notices to various levels of disqualification depending on the testing being carried out and the results of that testing.

I seek further information on the basis for and approach to bringing this proposal. The Minister indicated that 3,000 fixed penalty notices were issued between 2012 and 2016. The Minister said there has been a change in attitudes in recent years and that people have become more flaithúíl in their approach to drink-driving. If that is the case, it must be tackled. Could the Minister give us the basis for saying that people are becoming more tolerant of drink-driving? Could he give us details of the fixed penalty notices over the past four or five years which indicate that? Can he comment on how he can make that assumption without comparing it with enforcement levels? Has he looked at that? I know there is the issue of reports but how can the Minister be clear in respect of that evidence given? It is key that one looks at the enforcement level versus the convictions, as well as penalty point issuances. Can the Minister deal with that and flesh it out?

That is the key point. It is important to look at the evidence. There is no doubt that enforcement is key in ensuring members of the public comply with the laws that are in place. The Minister has indicated there were 3,000 fixed penalty notices. As for testing positive for higher levels of alcohol, can he indicate how many people were in different categories in this regard and were prosecuted and brought to court? The Minister indicated that because penalty points do not involve a mandatory disqualification, people are taking the risk of incurring them. Can the Minister flesh out why that is the case? Experience indicates that the public are very much aware of the dangers of drink-driving, that attitudes have been changing and regardless of whether it is a fixed penalty point or the potential of being put off the road, these are real deterrents in the eyes of the public.