Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all the words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

"—notes that Government policy since 1998 on road safety has provided a framework for the delivery of reductions in road deaths on a sustained basis;

—notes the progress already achieved in relation to the roll-out of the penalty points system and the commitment of the Minister for Transport, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Commissioner to advance a further major extension of the operation of that system as quickly as possible;

—notes that the Government has decided to pursue arrangements for appropriate private sector involvement in the deployment and operation of speed cameras;

—acknowledges the progress being made by the Garda Síochána in increasing the strength of the Garda traffic corps in line with the commitments made by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform;

—notes that the Minister for Transport is pursuing legislative proposals for the establishment of the road safety authority and that the new authority will have a central role in the co-ordination of the delivery of road safety programmes; and

—acknowledges and supports the Government's continued commitment to the delivery of the policy initiatives set out in the Road Safety Strategy 2004 to 2006 and its continued efforts to realise the target set in the strategy to reduce road deaths to a total of not more than 300 per annum by the end of 2006."

As someone who made a living driving along the highways and by-ways of this country, I have a fair understanding of road safety issues. Equally, as a parent with two children at home who are licensed to drive, I am conscious of much that has been said concerning the tragedy of fatal road accidents involving young people. Deputy Cassidy and I listened intently to the accurate information that has arisen during the debate. We share the Opposition's view and dearly wish to see a reduction in the number of road accidents causing death and serious injury. I do not think there is anybody in the House who would not share that view.

Long before I assumed my current portfolio at the Department of Transport, the record shows that I pursued some of the issues that were raised this evening, including road safety education in transition year, speed cameras and driver theory testing. The latter test is applied before granting a driving licence. It is frustrating that some people are not allowed to drive on motorways even though most routes are now motorways. On the other hand, when people pass the driving test they are expected to drive on motorways in the same way as an experienced driver. Such people have driving licences allowing them to drive on a motorway without any additional training.

See this speech in context