Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Clearly, we should obey the rules of the road. There is much ongoing work on the use of cameras. The issue is complex because of data protection, and the Data Protection Commissioner will have a key role. We have seen with the use of CCTV cameras for the likes of litter pollution that it is difficult to enforce the regulations. As the Data Protection Commissioner has rightly noted, we want to avoid a sense of there being excessive surveillance of citizens. We should be free in that sense. Nevertheless, there are potential applications, particularly in the management of junctions, traffic lights and so on. I would not rule out their use, but it will have to satisfy the commissioner that it is not in breach of people's fundamental civil rights. It will not be resolved in this legislation but it is a key ongoing issue.