Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim mo bhuíochas agus mo chomhghairdeas mór le Roseann Brennan agus a fear chéile. Tá obair díograiseach déanta acu ó thaobh sábháilteacht bóthair i mbailte móra agus go háirithe in eastáit tithíochta a ardú. Spreag an tragóid a tharla dá ngasúr beag, Jake, an feachtas seo. Mar a dúirt an Teachta Dála McDonald, chaill Jake a shaol níos lú ná bliain ó shin i gCill Chainnigh. Ón am sin ar aghaidh, níl dabht ar bith ann ach gur chuir a mháthair cuid mór leis an bhfeachtas chun teorainn luais de 20 km/h a chur i bhfeidhm in eastáit tithíochta. Tá sé soiléir go bhfuil an reachtaíocht seo de dhíth, ach tá oideachas de dhíth fosta ó thaobh tiománaithe agus an dáinséar atá ann agus iad ag tiomáint le hardluas i gceantair dá leithéid. Is ceantair iad seo ina féidir páistí a bheith ag súgradh agus ag caitheamh a gcuid ama.

As has been done, it is appropriate that Roseann Brennan and her husband are commended on the work they have done in regard to road safety since the tragic death of their little boy, Jake, a death which occurred less than a year ago in Kilkenny. I am sure it rips the heart out of any parent to see their child snatched from them at such a very young age. We are all familiar with cases in our constituencies where children have lost their lives at an early age and as a result of road fatalities and fatalities in housing estates. Some of those cannot be averted, some have happened because people have reversed out of their driveways and, unbeknownst to them, a toddler is behind the car and some are complete accidents. We cannot prevent all accidents.

What this legislation is trying to do, however, is to change behaviour, to educate and to make it a law that one cannot travel at inappropriate speeds where children are playing. I hear the news bulletins, as we all do, that a young person has lost his or her life in a tragic collision in a housing estate and one feels for the family. Even today when I was leaving for the House, my own children ran out to wave me off. My youngest is just two years of age and as I was reversing out, I wondered if he was behind the car as I could not see him in the side mirror. It is a fear every parent will have and, unfortunately, it is a fear visited on far too many parents, which possibly could be averted.

This is sensible legislation and is a call for action. In response to the campaign by Roseann Brennan, the Minister called on local authorities to review speed limits in residential areas and housing estates and to improve road safety for cyclists and pedestrians alike, but what was missing was the legislation and the fact no law was enacted. If we are to be a progressive Legislature, we must believe we enact laws for the betterment of society and that we see that good laws change behaviour and attitudes, which is a good result.

There have been many examples of this in the past. I refer to the laws in regard to drink driving. We all remember when people drove after consuming alcohol. It was the norm in Irish society for far too many people. However, when the limit was reduced, the law was changed and penalties were increased, behaviour was modified but, more importantly, attitudes to drink driving changed and it is now socially unacceptable to drink and drive. We must do the same with speed. We must make it unacceptable to drive fast where children are playing or anywhere it is unsafe to do so.

The most important aim of this Bill is simple, it is to save lives. Figures from Britain and Australia show that the odds against dying on the roads increase dramatically the slower the speed of the vehicle. At 20 km/h, there will be injury if a person collides with the car or if a car collides with a person, but death is unlikely. This is without doubt a very low speed limit but we must remember that it will be only in areas where there is housing. Most drivers do not exceed 20 km/h in an area that is built up or in a housing estate because they are aware of the dangers of small children playing beside roads. A child might run out onto the road to try to get a ball and the next thing it is too late.

I know the Minister is not opposing the legislation but we have seen this too often. It is the way the Government can say is not opposing the legislation, but it parks it in committee. Deputy McDonald made the call to mark Jake's anniversary in June by making it the day this law is enacted. That would be a commendable thing for the Minister to do.

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