Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I concede the point made about enforcement. There is a road safety meeting every two months involving the principal stakeholders, namely, the Minister for Justice and Equality, the Attorney General, various other Ministers, the RSA and all other such stakeholders.

At every single meeting, the Garda representatives are being put under pressure to say what is happening with the traffic corps and enforcement. We are acutely aware of it. It has turned that corner. Obviously, one can say there are 150 in the last two years, which is 10% per year by the end of this year. They have to be trained as well and the Deputy will raise that, as is quite right. It is improving and it has got to improve. They are going to be under pressure to enforce this law more strictly. It is a fair point. It was bad but we are not unaware of it and are certainly doing something about it. It is a question I ask every single time, as does the RSA and others. The Department of Justice and Equality is there as is the Garda. It is not restricted to public statements in the Dáil but is also regarded as very important behind closed doors. Figures are going to be released on a very regular basis.

I hope that the message is getting out. Deputies may say the measure is small and we should be tackling a lot of other things; that is what Deputy O'Keeffe says. However, I disagree with Deputy O'Keeffe about the RSA. It has been producing some very strong advertising. This, together with the debate to which all Deputies present have contributed, is sending a message out to people to be more careful on the roads and that road safety is their responsibility. There are indications over the years that the general trend is improving. There is greater consciousness. There have been some very moving advertisements on television with the victims' groups very bravely coming forward and telling their own stories. I am not claiming credit myself for them. I think that has had an effect. We just marginally got the lowest figures ever last year for deaths on the roads. That is not a cause of satisfaction at all. I think it was 160, which is appalling and totally unacceptable. However, there is a message going out that road safety has moved up the agenda and that people have a responsibility. The Bill is part of that message and I hope it is going to continue with further legislation on other issues. It will continue as long as I am here. I will introduce more legislation this year on road safety. We are deadly serious about it.

I am very sorry if I gave the Deputy a moral lecture. I did not mean to do that. That is not the objective. It is a kind of moral issue but it was not meant to be a moral lecture at all. Far be it from me to give anyone a moral lecture about anything. It does seem to me to be a no-brainer that if a measure of this sort saves lives, we should pursue it. It is not a moral issue but a matter of trying to see that more families are not bereaved. I will submit to Deputy Ó Cuív and come second to him on morality. I am happy to do that.

Deputy Munster raised the issue of the traffic corps and the 10%. I think I have answered that. Yes, it is happening by the end of this quarter, which is now. That should be completed and there should be 150 new members, which I think is actually over the 10%. There is a bit of a time lag on it. Enforcement is absolutely vital, the Deputy is quite right. The introduction of the measures in some way acts as an impetus and incentive for the Garda to enforce. They realise that as well. There is an onus on the Government to produce the gardaí to enforce the measures we are introducing. I do not think we should hold back because enforcement was inadequate. I do not think it is now. I actually think this acts as some sort of pressure on other Departments to do what is necessary in terms of enforcement.