Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am talking about the amendment and why it is not broader. This is the Minister's solution for road safety but there are many other aspects of the problem which the Minister should tackle. The Minister for Education and Skills has not made a contribution and never discusses it when he goes before the teaching organisations. Our teachers have enough to do but I am sure they would welcome it if the Government and Ministers introduced education in this area of the curriculum, in the interests of safety. They should make it compulsory. It is compulsory to have languages and other things but not to be trained in the rules of the road or told of the major responsibility it is to drive a mechanically-propelled vehicle. I would love the Minister to do that rather than this.

This is a political reaction so that the Department can state that it is doing its best to save lives by bringing legislation before the Dáil. I am not convinced about it, however. If I was, I would support the Minister.

See this speech in context