Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Olivia Mitchell for putting this Bill before the House tonight. It is designed to achieve just one vital objective, to prevent drivers from using or holding hand held mobile handsets while driving.

It makes absolute sense to stop drivers trying to negotiate the normal impediments, obstacles and risks associated with driving any vehicle on any road in Ireland at any time, day or night. This Bill is aimed at all drivers, whether they are car drivers, van drivers or lorry drivers. They should not be allowed to take or make mobile calls on a hand held mobile phone. A total of 95% of the population use mobile phones and with the mobile phone culture now deeply embedded in the Irish psyche, it is time this madness was stopped.

A hand held mobile phone used while driving a car is no better or worse than driving with one hand but with the added complication that the mind is torn between the activities on the road and the news coming in on the mobile phone. It is worse when a driver uses the mobile phone to make a call. At times this exercise means that both hands are in use while the car is expected to drive on autopilot.

It may be argued that this Bill does not cover all eventualities and shortcomings but the principle of the Bill is correct, reasonable, necessary and enforceable.

Can a motorist driving at 100 km/h who takes a call or tries to ring somebody on a hand held phone also exercise the necessary care and attention required to drive and still be eagle-eyed for that upcoming emergency that happens to everybody at some stage in their driving lives? Now that texting has become a national pastime, one can only shudder at the thought of it being practised at 120 km/h on the new dual carriageway.

The Government may table suitable amendments if required. I am delighted the Government has accepted this Bill. It does not ban the use of hands-free mobile phones, bluetooth or ear pieces. While these might be a minor distraction, as some research has shown, if this Bill can stop the hand held mobile phone being used while driving, we will have gone a long way towards closing off a significant loophole. The use of hand held mobile phones is a contributing factor in accidents and should be stopped as a matter of good sense.

I welcome the appointment of Gay Byrne as chairman of the Road Safety Authority. On Committee Stage of the relevant Bill at the Select Committee on Transport I urged the Minister to provide for annual achievements in order that after each year of the new road safety plan it could be clearly seen if all the stakeholders were acting in concert with each other, which they never were. They are still out of step with each other. If we get an integrated plan that is properly researched and financed, we will stop the spiral of unnecessary deaths on the roads. This will not come cheap but taxpayers will not mind if it costs more, provided the money is well spent and they can see they are getting a return on their investment, which in this case will be the greatest return imaginable, the saving of lives on the roads.

I do not have time to cover all aspects but I hope Gay Byrne will succeed in his role. I have watched developments on this issue closely in recent years and the Minister and his predecessor in action. For some strange reason, a flash announcement on what will happen is made whether any research has been done. If research was done, there would be a follow-up. I have heard the banning of the use of mobile phones in cars heralded on several occasions as something that could and should be done but it has never been done. With regard to enforcement, many could drive to the four corners of the country without seeing a garda on transport duty. I hope Gay Byrne will do what the Minister could not or would not do. Many, including me, hope he will be successful.

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