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

When the Minister spoke earlier he hung his hat on road safety. I am talking about road safety. I am talking about saving lives. I am talking about things in a sensible way and I am asking the Minister to look at other aspects of road safety that he is not looking at. Since becoming Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, has concentrated on a very narrow focus of road safety. Many times I have stood up in this House and pointed out that driving a car is one of the sure things young people will do and I have asked the Minister why he and the Minister for Education and Skills do not work together and put road safety and driving cars on the school curriculum, again, from a very early age. Why should young people not be taught the ins and outs of road safety while at school? In the past number of years, I have not heard a Minister make that suggestion in this House or agree to take on board that suggestion when I and others made it. If the Minister is about saving lives, he should be looking at every aspect of road safety and not one particular aspect of it, which is what he and the people supporting him have been doing. I do not understand why he does not broaden his focus.

There are so many other reasons for accidents on our roads. Sadly, a couple were fatally injured on our roads today. We do not want to see this happening but I do not believe the measures the Minister is hoping to introduce will prevent accidents. It would be wrong to say any more about the accident that occurred today. I just had to acknowledge it.

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