Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

Thank you, Ms Gray. It is budget week. Everybody is very busy. I am very grateful to see such a high attendance. It reflects the seriousness with which we all as Oireachtas Members and in particular as members of this committee take the topic of road safety. I express my gratitude to members. On their and my behalf, as we begin this session on road safety I would like to take a moment to acknowledge all those who have lost their lives or have been seriously injured on the roads. We think of Steve, Keelan, Jonathan and all others who have lost their lives. We will rightly focus today on issues around policy, enforcement, the legislative agenda, responsibility, resources and much more but we do so acutely aware that behind every statistic there is a person, a family and a community. Their lives are forever changed. We think of all victims and their loved ones today. I call Deputy O'Hara followed by Senator Cosgrove.