John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like previous speakers, I commend Deputy Ellis and other members of his party who have brought forward this legislation for discussion. Many Members have had the opportunity over the past few days to meet members of the late Jake Brennan's family, his neighbours and friends. Being from Kilkenny, I can attest to the fact that many people are involved in the Jake's Legacy campaign. In the depths of what was a dreadful tragedy for them, I commend them on mounting such a campaign to highlight this issue and to have brought it to the point in the House where the Minister has indicated that the law will be amended to accommodate what is proposed in the Bill. That is a tribute to them. They would prefer not to have been in Dublin on a vigil over the past two or three nights and to have been at home but, unfortunately, the tragedy visited on them a little less than 12 months ago meant they took up this challenge to remember their little boy who lost his life in such tragic circumstances.

I have been present for most of the previous contributions but Deputy Colreavy's was the most striking. He referred to the necessity for a change in mindset. Many aspects of Irish life have changed beyond recognition even over the past ten to 12 years because the way people view them has changed. Whether it was the smoking ban or the ban on plastic bags, which are relatively minor issues in comparison to this, people changed the way they lived their lives and the way they acted. Driving a car is probably one of the most dangerous activities we engage in on a daily basis and it is right and proper that we should think from time to time about the potential consequences of a failure to do so properly. The Minister outlined the reductions in serious injury and fatalities over the past few years but a further change in mindset is needed.

I would like to address a number of issues in the context of this legislation. When I was a member of the local authority in Kilkenny, I found that the method of changing speed limits was cumbersome. I left the local authority in 2003 following the abolition of the dual mandate. During my four years on the local authority between 1999 and 2003, I found that necessary changes that local representatives and communities wanted were enacted with great difficulty, although I acknowledge the method changed in the 2004 legislation.

There is an overlap in responsibility for the issue of planning between the Minister and his colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. However, speed limits and speed ramps should be installed as a matter of routine as part of the planning conditions for new housing estates from now on. There is also the issue of retrofitting existing estates and the Minister has gone some of the way towards addressing this. I recall the first time I canvassed the Lintown area of Kilkenny city. It is on the Johnswell Road which has expanded the most in population terms over the past 15 years in the city. There were many new housing developments in the area and many similar developments were built around the country. More funding is required to ensure estates that have sprung up over the past 15 years are subject to speed limits and have speed ramps installed on them. I accept the Minister's point that not all residential areas are the same. Some residential thoroughfares carry more traffic than others, some are broad and wide while others are narrow and some have parking while others do not. They cannot be treated the same way but there is a compelling argument to treat housing developments differently.

As Deputy Colreavy said, this legislation is about changing people's attitudes to road safety, speeding and the dangers of driving a car. Anything that does that should be greatly welcomed. I commend the legislation and I particularly commend Jake Brennan's family.

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