Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy has balanced the issue well, because apparently it is a problem for Northern Ireland as well regarding Republic of Ireland cars in the North. However, the number of Northern registered cars here being driven by Republic of Ireland drivers appears to be increasing by the day. I accept what the Deputy is saying in relation to this matter. I met with Mr. Jim Fitzpatrick, MP, my UK counterpart, about 12 months ago and we discussed this issue. We agreed between ourselves, the Republic, Northern Ireland and Great Britain, that the UK will take the lead on this aspect of road safety. We met with the officials and emphasised that progress must be made in this regard. However, it was made pretty clear to us that this project could take three to four years, since they had gone into it in some detail in their feasibility study. In that context, I believe that giving extra powers here in relation to drivers on both sides of the Border, and thereby mutually allowing the authorities to stop and seize cars until substantial fines are paid, is something that we should, perhaps, discuss in the context of the road traffic Bill.

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