Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It is a very simple thing. As I have said, my final point relates to road safety. A new section of the N5 in County Mayo, as far as Ballaghaderreen, was recently opened. I ask RTE to send a journalist to the area to see what has been done. I do not know why a white structure had to be put on the new road. I do not have the correct term for what the thing is actually called. I suppose a massive amount of money was spent on the road. Bollards have had to be erected because accidents were happening on the road, which is a national primary route. People who were driving along the road suddenly found that they had gone over the structure to which I refer. There was an accident or two.

I do not know where the NRA got the engineers who designed the road. I do not know why this structure was put up. I do not know what benefit it is supposed to have. I will take a photograph of the structure the next time I travel on the road on a bright evening. I will send the photograph to the Minister and the NRA. Perhaps one of the daily newspapers will run a quiz asking its readers to guess what purpose the structure serves, or why it was deemed necessary. The only thing it does is endanger the lives of people in cars. Someone will be killed at that spot. I have drafted a letter on the matter, which I intend to send to Mayo County Council, the NRA and the Minister. They will have to take responsibility if someone is killed at that location. They have created a problem that did not need to be created. They create problems when they build new roads.

I am concerned about the role of local authorities in the area of health and safety. People have told me about the problems which arise when diversions are needed during road works or in the aftermath of an accident. I have seen these "diversion" signs. Drivers are often diverted all over the country because there are no signs to bring them back to their original route. For all the local authorities care, one could end up in Louisburgh or Ballymena in Northern Ireland. I do not know why they do not put up signs telling drivers where they have to go. That would be too much trouble. It is a health and safety issue and it would be good for them to get involved in that to save people the hassle.

The legislation is about raising revenue for the Government, it is not about being green, yellow or blue. It is another stealth tax.

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