Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

I wish to express my sympathy and that of the Labour Party to the families that were so tragically bereaved in recent days. In light of the weekend's events, is the Minister not being incredibly lethargic? Is not the ongoing, terrible carnage on our roads utterly unacceptable? The buck stops with the Minister and he must take responsibility. Is it time to declare this matter a national emergency? If the Minister wishes, later this week, to introduce legislation relating to people who do not possess proper licences, who have 12 penalty points or whatever, the Labour Party, and I am sure Fine Gael, would facilitate its passage.

The Minister vetoed the proposal to reduce the blood alcohol limit to 0.5. He decided last October that it would not be possible to introduce what, effectively, would be a non-drink drive limit. The Minister bears responsibility and he did not have the political courage to take this decision. Given that alcohol appears to be a factor in approximately 37% of collisions and crashes, is it not incredible that he decided not to take action?

If one considers the wider picture, the Minister failed to introduce key legislation in respect of driving offences. Gay Byrne, the chairperson of the RSA, went ballistic yesterday and almost threatened to resign because the Minister will not expedite the placement of additional cameras throughout the country. Most people agree that speeding is the decisive factor in the majority of collisions. Does not the Minister bear responsibility and is this not an emergency?

We welcomed the fact that there was a small reduction in the number of collisions last year. However, the position in respect of 2003 was similar. The carnage that has occurred during the past eight or ten years — the events of last weekend disgusted and dismayed people — is completely unacceptable. This is an emergency situation. The Minister should take responsibility and should stop referring to drink driving limits, road traffic offences and cameras.

Reference was made to the UK. The point about that jurisdiction is that the authorities there engage in much stricter enforcement of existing traffic laws. Is it not time we established a totally separate traffic corps that would be answerable to itself and to the Minister for Transport and that would enforce the traffic laws?

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