Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his comments. This year's figures to date are a cause for great concern, in that the number of road fatalities has increased significantly. However, it is important that we not read too much into this increase. When I first took up office in March 2011, the first quarter indicated an increase in road fatalities. By the end of the year, though, 2011 had become the safest year on record. It is important that we not read too much into monthly or quarterly statistics.

We need good road behaviour and enforcement. The latter is important but difficult, given the reducing Garda numbers. We will have the detailed breakdown of the 2011 figures soon, although those for 2012 might take a further year. Sometimes, this process gets held up because of coroners' cases. For example, suicides in cars can be reclassified. It can take time to analyse the statistics.

To answer Deputy Harrington's valid question on fatigue, I do not know. I will undertake to seek a reply for him from the Road Safety Authority, RSA. I would also like to know the answer. Fatigue may be difficult to prove after the fact, which is not necessarily the case with other causes.

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