Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

The commitment made by the Taoiseach during the election campaign is being adopted and delivered but it is absolutely proper for a Government Minister to pause for consideration and proper deliberation regarding anything said during an election campaign, even by the Taoiseach.

When I took part in the general election in 2002 and entered the Oireachtas five years ago road safety was one of the major issues that needed to be tackled, given the horrific and unacceptable number of accidents. The other major policy issue in the general area of road transport was the cost of motor insurance and, happily, according to a report in the Irish Examiner yesterday, there has been reduction of around 40% in the cost of insurance through the work of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, PIAB

We have made a more limited impact on road safety. While it is good the number of deaths decreased by 10% between 2001 and 2006, much more should be done. The Minister pointed out that death rates are down 25% for the first 12 months of mandatory testing. There is no doubt the Garda Traffic Corps has been a success and is a noticeable presence. I was mandatorily tested in Donegal in August on my way back from the McGill summer school to a hotel in Donegal town. Although I am 60 years of age, this was the first time ever I was breathalysed. I was not terribly good at it, but Members will be pleased to hear no alcohol level showed up. This is an area where public representatives need to set a good example.

Like others, I welcome mandatory testing in crash situations, despite the practical questions raised which must be worked out in legislation. I noticed the Garda representative welcomed this provision this morning on the grounds that if it is established in principle, this makes the test much less invidious in such situations. When discussing more draconian measures, we need to bring the public with us. It was suggested earlier this evening that we should introduce a zero drink level.

There would be public resistance to the privatisation of speed cameras. I would resist it. People need to feel a measure is in the public interest rather than having a monetary aspect to privatisation of speed cameras. I have reservations about the privatisation of this process, although I accept this may happen.

One simple measure could make a significant difference to road safety and the cost would be negligible, namely publication of lists of people, by county, who have been found and convicted of drink driving. This policy works well with regard to Revenue offences and I am surprised it has not been extended to other areas. Drink driving is a more serious offence than whether people have paid their TV licence.

As soon as the technology is perfected, drug testing must be integrated into all mandatory testing. Perhaps we should also make more use of the driving ban, because it is a significant deterrent to the many people who cannot afford to lose their licences because they would thereby lose their livelihoods.

We had much discussion before the election on the social aspect of testing and social life in rural areas and the need to organise collective car transport and late night buses. I am surprised by the resistance of people to going into a pub and drinking alcohol substitutes or minerals. I was impressed a year or so ago when I visited a pub in the country after a new Fianna Fáil chairman of the county council had been elected. The pub was quite inaccessible without transport and I was impressed that at least half of the drinks being drunk were minerals.

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