Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)

Two weeks ago, we stood here and thought things were looking good. Then everything went wrong when many of our young people were killed. Young drivers must be brought to centres and trained properly, as in other countries where they are not allowed to drive on the roads until they have received a certain number of hours of instruction under different conditions, such as wet, snowy, frosty or dark. I was stupid to be fooled into thinking that the situation would improve, but we will continue to see multiple deaths until we teach our young people and train them in the same conditions as those in which we train the gardaí who drive our Ministers and Taoiseach around. Then we might be able to go at 110 mph and know we will be safe on our roads.

Fine Gael will propose five designated areas throughout the country where people can go to learn to drive a car properly under proper instruction and where parents can bring their 16 or 17-year-olds. Motorbike training would be available to 16-year-olds. Yesterday, the chief executive of the RSA, Mr. Noel Brett, told me he intends to have centres for motorcycles because the level of motorcycle deaths relative to the numbers of motorcycles is higher than that of cars.

If we want to stop these deaths, it is crucial we provide areas where people can learn. It is law in other countries that one cannot drive on the road until one has attended these centres. It will be part of our election manifesto and we will implement it. However, rather than waiting, I would like to see it brought forward and done now because much can happen in six months, many people will die in the next six months. We must tackle every aspect of road safety, including training, alcohol and drugs. We all received an education in drugs yesterday. In Victoria, Australia, in 2003 some 31% of people killed in road deaths tested positive for drugs. However, the Tánaiste this morning said we have no law ready to come in to check if people involved in road accidents have taken drugs.

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