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

A lot of work has been done by the Minister's predecessors, going back to the time of people like the former Minister, Noel Dempsey, and so on. That work has been undermined by the fact that two Ministers are responsible for this area. The Minister knows that in any business there must be one chief executive because when responsibility is split between two departments, things fall in the divide between the two. The Courts Service has let us down, largely because of inefficiencies over the years in not requiring information to be provided and licence details to be taken down and brought to the attention of An Garda Síochána, the RSA and so on.

I note the point the Minister is making and the fact that he has come a little bit of the way in regard to the requirement on judges. A comprehensive approach is necessary. We should not have to constantly see what the Department of Justice and Equality is doing and then hark back to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The safety of our people is part of the Minister's portfolio.

This year, there have been approximately 170 deaths on our roads. Close relatives of people who have died have marked their deaths. It is one of the most serious things that traumatises families year in and year out. This amendment would be a small step in alleviating the situation.

I have heard what the Minister said. I asked him about consolidated legislation on the area, and whether his Department could work on that as a priority. In that context, I will withdraw the amendment.

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