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

My Minister of State, Deputy Jack Chambers, will bring the legislation to the Dáil first and we are aiming for the end of this first quarter, roughly. The legislation will have to get through the Dáil and the Seanad. Like with all these traffic Bills, there probably will be some additional elements included. I do not have all the final details here but I absolutely agree. I understand the concern that we need to deliver on the reduced average speed limits as well as do a whole range of other measures to address the increase in road fatalities. I hope and expect that the Bill will get swift passage through both Houses. Then it has to be implemented by the local authorities and that will be later this year. The local authorities have to amend the regulations in their own counties and then go through the process of designating roads. The legislation would set the default speed at lower levels and if a council wishes to change the speed upwards or downwards, it can do so but that will take some time. There is absolute urgency because the legislation will save lives.