Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The number of road deaths and the carnage on the roads is both disappointing and disturbing. At the start, we should remember all those who have unfortunately lost their lives in recent weeks and months. As Deputy Kenny said, the primary target for the Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 was to reduce road deaths to no more than 300 per annum by the end of 2006. That target will be very difficult to achieve with the number of deaths at 374 for 2004 and 399 for 2005.

I do not believe that legislation has been the difficulty in this area. We have an enormous number of legislative measures and another legislative measure, the Transport (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will shortly be before the House, which will give increased powers in a number of areas, including some of the ones the Deputy mentioned. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has announced plans to develop a traffic corps in each divisional area, with far greater numbers than at present. While the traffic corps is in operation at present, it is planned to use the increased number of gardaí to bring up to 900, if I recall the figure, the number of traffic corps gardaí around the country dealing every day, day and night, with traffic issues.

There has been the major extension of the application of the penalty points system, including the working of the technology system, which was slow to get off the ground, from the existing five offences to 35 offences, which will be launched in springtime. There is a continued focus on driver behaviour and key safety issues, such as dangerous overtaking and failure to obey traffic lights, stop signs, yield signs and vehicle crossing centre lines. There are the fixed charges that have been applied to offences — they will be applied to almost 60 offences. The vast majority of those are the 35 penalty points offences referred to. The Minister for Finance will make a detailed announcement on these matters in the morning. The extension will be facilitated by introducing a series of statutory instruments; primary legislation is not required in these areas.

The Deputy asked about the introduction of legislation to support the operation of privately owned speed cameras. Decisions on the locations where cameras will be provided will be taken by the Garda. I understand the Garda Commissioner is appearing before the Joint Committee on Transport dealing with traffic issues. I know that is an issue he will address at that committee. This is to be based on reflecting both the experience of speed-related collisions and evidence of a history of speeding. It is not a willy-nilly approach that cameras are stuck everywhere and anywhere on open stretches, they are in the crucial areas around the country.

There is also the issue of random roadside breath testing. We have come to a conclusion on that matter. There has been a lot of legal debate on what is constitutional. The Attorney General has given his advice on the matter. It is legal and constitutional to have random breath testing. It must be done in a particular way, but that will be done. That will be announced as well. In the past few days we have conveyed that to the Garda Commissioner.

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