Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I have said this to the Taoiseach a few weeks ago. Since the Minister and I were elected to this House in 2011, almost 1,000 people have died on our roads and there have been between 15,000 and 16,000 very serious injuries. Clearly, if this was happening in any other area of Irish life or administration it would be a targeted area and action would be taken. The enforcement actions of the road safety strategy are hopelessly behind target. I welcome the fact the Road Traffic Bill will be passed next week at the latest and certainly will be passed during this Dáil session, but with regard to enforcement by the Garda traffic corps and through penalty points and so on, there has not been sufficient delivery on some of these actions.

What kind of a strong response can be taken? The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality is responsible for carrying out of much of the enforcement. From the experience of the last eight or nine months does the Minister, Deputy Ross, feel there needs to be a special protocol between the two Departments in how road traffic law, which the Minister is bringing through the House, will be enforced by the Department of Justice and Equality and by An Garda Síochána? This applies particularly in cases of speeding. District Court records show huge inconsistencies in how speeding offences are being dealt with and how in some District Courts there is very low conviction rates compared to others.

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