Michael Mulcahy (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank Members of the Opposition for tabling this motion on an important matter but it is based on a false premise. It notes that 323 persons have been killed on our roads in the first ten months of 2005. However, there is no mention in the motion of the substantial increase in car registrations. If one goes over the number of roads deaths in recent years and the number of new car registrations, one would come to the reasonable conclusion that the number of road deaths as a percentage of cars on the road is decreasing. In the period 1998 to 2004, there were 40% more vehicles on our roads. There were 472 fatalities on our roads in 1997, 458 in 1998, 413 in 1999, 415 in 2000, 411 in 2001, 376 in 2002, 335 in 2003, 374 in 2004, which is a provisional figure, and 326 so far in 2005.

One life lost on our roads is one too many. We should not look at this problem in an abstract way. It is a scandal and a shame that anyone is injured on the roads. As a Government backbencher, I do not mind saying the Government could do even more in this area. I am not convinced that the resources have been applied by this or previous Governments. Is anything more important than road safety and people's lives and health?

Another criticism I have of the motion is that it does not mention something which will be the greatest contributor to road safety, namely, the new transport plan, Transport 21. With a network of hugely improved roads, I have no doubt that there will be a massive decrease in the number of road injuries and fatalities. If the Opposition was a little bit more mature, the motion would have welcomed the new transport plan.

The EU third road safety action plan has set a target of a 50% reduction in road deaths across the EU by 2010 but that is not enough. We can do better than that. I genuinely believe this issue should be at the top of every EU government's agenda. However, it is not only a matter for central government. Local authorities have a critical role to play in regard to the design and construction of roads. They also have a role to play in regard to lighting and signage on roads. Local authorities throughout this country fail miserably under those headings.

There is no question but that the penalty points system has had a beneficial impact. There are four categories to which it applies but I would like the number of categories to which it applies greatly expanded. I welcome the Opposition raising this issue but its motion is lacking in credibility and honesty and I commend the Government amendment to the House.

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