Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that this Bill has been brought to the House. It is only appropriate that I should acknowledge the sentiments behind it because I support most of what has been said by the proposers, as does the Government. I acknowledge both the role Deputy Ellis has played for a long period in pioneering this legislation and the sentiments behind it. I share those sentiments. I fully support what Deputy Ellis is trying to do. The passion with which he spoke today and when I met him last night is not lost on anyone involved in promoting the legislation and trying to outlaw the activities he outlined.

I also acknowledge what Deputy Munster said. I agree that this is a real and urgent problem that must be addressed. I and others have identified that this is something that must be tackled by the Government. That said, I do not retreat in the face of anybody who says that we have avoided difficulties on issues of road safety and the safety of lives. That is a top priority of mine, the Department and anyone involved in the transport portfolio. Road safety and the saving of lives must come first because that is what it is all about. It is unfair of Deputy Munster to say that we have not been addressing those issues adequately. She knows full well that the road safety legislation, which thankfully Sinn Féin supported and for which we are very grateful, has changed the atmosphere and I hope will save more lives. Road deaths were down last year because it is a Government priority and the Road Safety Authority, RSA, has been running some very effective campaigns. It is too early to say whether the numbers will be down this year again but I hope that will be the case. As of today, they are down by six. That is not adequate. Nothing is adequate, but the problem is being addressed with the same passion with which Deputy Ellis addressed this issue. I support him. The only problem we have here is the way of addressing it, which could perhaps have been tackled earlier given that the Bill has been in the legislative lottery process for a long time.

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