Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Ryan has made an extraordinary assertion. I agree that one of the reasons for this country's high level of road fatalities is its extraordinary network of small roads scattered throughout the country. The Government is pursuing a policy of constructing motorways on the major interurban routes to try to improve the road network, but the Green Party is opposing that every step of the way. I have consistently argued that this country needs more roads of a better standard and fewer of the traditional smaller roads. I do not understand, bearing in mind Deputy Ryan's correct assertion that our society depends on road transport, why the Green Party does not support the Government's road construction policy. It is unrealistic to suggest that everybody can be switched from cars to public transport — that will not happen.

There were less than 750,000 cars in this country a few years ago, but that figure has increased to 1.6 million today. It is interesting that Ireland's level of car ownership continues to be below the European average. Many important matters can be considered as part of the debate on road accidents, but the most telling statistic that can be used is that driver behaviour is the cause of 86% of accidents. The most fundamental issue to be confronted is the need for Irish people, individually and collectively, to take responsibility for their behaviour on the roads. An improvement in driver behaviour would reduce the current tragic level of deaths and injuries overnight without any need for legislative proposals. I reiterate that 86% of the tragic fatalities and injuries on our roads can be attributed to driver behaviour.

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