Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I will tell the Minister what happened. It is because in 1977 the Fianna Fáil Party abolished rates and motor tax which meant road maintenance disappeared from the agenda. That is what happened and it is time the Minister recognised that fact. The Minister does not listen. Instead of taking photographs of accidents, will he please do something about the condition of our roads and find out what causes the accidents?

Road signage is another issue. Drivers would need to have a navigator with them in their car. When they drive into a town they are faced with welcome signs in four languages, French, German, Irish and English. These are followed by signs announcing traffic calming, followed by signs across the road warning against progressing in that direction. These are followed by signs in various languages saying "Slow" and signs saying the town is twinned with Baader Meinhof or wherever. This is all very confusing. I know Baader Meinhof were a gang, as the Minister should know too.

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