Mr. Brendan Byrne:

In 2018, we had the advantage of having Deputies Mac Lochlainn and Gallagher in the House. There were numerous amendments and an alternative statutory instrument was drafted at that time, in conjunction with all the Opposition parties. Multiple courses of action could be more practical and would still provide a robust control and enforcement system. We cannot have a system that is completely based on criminality. We need administrative sanctions that are proportionate and reasonable to be implemented in conjunction with the penalty points system. Only one or two offences under the penalty points system in Spain are considered serious infringements. In Ireland, basically everything is a serious offence. We are all a part of the one European Union. We all read from the one rule book. How can it be so different in another country? I do not accept that we must encourage other countries to come up to our standard. Our standard will destroy an industry because it is not practical. Law must have a commonsense approach. The statue of Lady Justice is blindfolded because she is fair and balanced. Law must be fair, balanced and proportionate, but that is not the case here.