Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I asked the Taoiseach if he would be prepared to send out a clear message to people driving on Irish roads that those caught driving without insurance will have their vehicle confiscated, sold and the proceeds used for victims' compensation and so on. The Taoiseach should send out a clear and tough message to this effect. After all, law abiding drivers are paying €60 million in respect of claims arising from uninsured drivers.

We welcome everybody to this country. According to the Lonely Plant travel group, Ireland is the friendliest nation in the world with the exception of Fiji and Malawi. However, 1,700 crashes on Irish roads last year involved cars registered in Poland and Lithuania. Obviously, persons from those countries and others are welcome here when they contribute to our economy but we have standards that should apply to everybody.

There is growing concern about the large number of drivers from outside the State who retain their domestic registration and renew their insurance policies in their home countries. This, in turn, gives rise to all of the difficulties that ensue when a driver from outside the State is involved in a crash with an Irish driver. This is a new issue in addition to the current loophole which allows foreign registered cars to be re-registered here for two years before any checks in respect of roadworthiness, NCT and so on are required.

Another glaring problem, as pointed out yesterday evening by Deputy O'Dowd, is that of the 400,000 penalty points cases this year, 108,000 of those points cannot be applied because the drivers do not hold Irish driving licences. It is time a clear message was sent out given the carnage on our roads. The regulations in respect of driving, registration and insurance are very clear. We should have no qualms about saying that the regulations and rules apply to everybody, be they from Ireland or elsewhere.

The Taoiseach will be aware that in future an Irish person travelling to another EU country, purchasing a car there and bringing it back to Ireland will be required as an Irish national to have the car undergo an NCT and roadworthiness test within six months. The issue in respect of foreign registered cars not having to do this for two years is causing a problem.

Now that progress is being made in terms of mandatory breathalysing, will the Taoiseach speak to his Minister for Transport to ensure clear rules are set down in respect of driving, insurance and re-registration? These rules should apply to everybody across the board. People should know that if they are caught driving without insurance in this country, their car will be confiscated, sold and the proceeds used for victims' compensation.

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