Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. Those of us who are parents and grandparents will recall when we heard of young Jake's death. Although I do not know the Brennan family - I have not met them although I hope I will - I must say that our hearts went out and we understood in some way the pain and anguish that family went through and is going through. That understanding of the pain and anguish, with me certainly, turned to a very strong admiration, because here was a family who, in the midst of their grief, stood back and tried to find something good that would come out of such a tragedy. I think the interviews with the Brennan family were far more persuasive than anything I can say here as to why our legislation should be passed through this Dáil after the debate tonight and tomorrow night.

Taking up a point to which Deputy McDonald referred earlier, there are different kinds of debate in this Chamber. Sometimes legislation is put forward that is hugely complex. There might be a question over whether it is in conflict with EU legislation or policy. There might be conflict over whether it impacts on other Irish legislation. There might indeed be conflict over whether the legislation is desirable and there are many ideological debates as to whether legislation might be advantageous or desirable. There might be debates over legislation which all sides agree is desirable, but which cannot be afforded by the State. We have all that range of debate in legislation, but I think this is one piece of legislation that everybody here will agree is good, necessary and doable. It is doable now.

For some legislation, there might be question marks over whether the perceived benefits of implementing it are as great as presented by its proponents. There is no such conflict here. The evidence is clear. Reducing speed in housing estates will save the lives of children, adults and elderly and infirm people. The evidence is there and is clear. There are two issues here. First, will the Government take this as a serious piece of legislation? Will it ensure that it gets a fast passage through the Houses and, most importantly, will it ensure it is enforced? Legislation that is not enforced will not save lives. Enforcement is essential.

We all hear talk now regarding children and obesity, that it is important that children can play outside, can play their games of football, cross the road to the park, or enjoy the God-given air of this land or ours. Oftentimes, particularly in the larger housing estates, parents are fearful of letting their children out and one of the fears is of traffic driving through the estates. Very few people set out to kill or badly injure somebody with a car. That very seldom happens. However, there are drivers who, unless there are consequences to their actions, will drive dangerously and recklessly. A child can be killed by someone driving within the law on the streets of our housing estates at present. That is bad. It is possible to drive within the permitted regulation and still pose a very real risk to the lives of children and other vulnerable people on the streets of our estates.

I was discussing the fact that we were putting forward this legislation tonight with a person over the weekend. He was a young chap and likes fast cars. I did not think anyone would have a view like this, but he said to me, "Micheál, it is nearly impossible to drive for any distance at 20 km/h." That is the mindset that has to be changed. We are not talking about Mondello Park - we are talking about housing estates where people drive a couple of hundred metres, slow down, turn left and gradually pick up speed again. It is not a race track or a highway. That is the kind of change of mind we have to bring around in society, probably starting with our young drivers. One thing is sure - unless the legislation is changed to make it an offence to travel greater than 20 km/h in our housing estates, those young people will continue to drive too fast.

Those young people regard speed limits as minimum, not maximum, speed limits. We can say that is wrong and that they should not do that, but that is the way it is.

The Brennan family have made a totally persuasive case and we, as legislators, have a responsibility to bring about this change. The Minister will have our full support in ensuring this legislation has a speedy passage through the House. He will also have our full support in ensuring it is implemented properly. Society will thank the Minister for that and it will watch to see the difference it will make in our housing estates.

I do not want to hear of any more cases like Jake Brennan's. In particular, I do not want to hear of any more Jake Brennan cases where the finger can be pointed at me, at the Minister and at Members of this House in that if we had done something about this, perhaps the young life may not have taken.

I understand the legislation we are putting forward will not be opposed by the Government but it must be actively supported by it. It must be brought through the Houses of the Oireachtas quickly and implemented. I repeat the Minister will have our full support in doing that.

See this speech in context