Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

Members who may or may not be in the Garda traffic corps in 2008 will not be able to do anything about the carnage on our roads now. It is tiresome to listen to the Minister talking about plans and commitments for years ahead when the problem is there now. My complaint is about the numbers in the traffic corps and that, despite commitments that were made three or four years ago, efforts are only now being made to produce the extra recruits. Does the Minister accept that there is scepticism on the part of the public about the operation of an expanded penalty points system? There have been four offences in the system for some time and their operation to date does not inspire much confidence.

A number of questions have been put on whether the technology is in place to deal with another 31 offences. Will the Minister explain, in simple, layman's terms, how the system will work and how it will be better tomorrow than it was yesterday?

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