Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter and indeed for all the work he has done as he outlined on cyclists being passed in close proximity and the offence that was put into legislation. Like Deputy Cannon, I have a keen interest in cycling but I would not pretend to be in the same league as him. The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. Neither the Minister for Justice nor I have any responsibility for these operational matters. As the Deputy will be aware, the development and implementation of road traffic legislation and policy and the promotion and advancement of road safety falls within the remit of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. An Garda Síochána plays a vital role in enforcing road traffic law and in making our roads safer for all road users, including vulnerable ones such as cyclists. Deputy Cannon outlined how they belong in this category.

I am advised by the Minister that the protection of vulnerable road users is being prioritized in the development of the new road safety strategy, which will run from 2021 to 2030. Protecting vulnerable road users involves an array of measures, of which legislation and law enforcement are only a part. Improvements in infrastructure, such as dedicated cycle lanes, will reduce the danger by keeping vulnerable road users separate from motorized traffic and the Deputy alluded to cities which were taking the lead in that. The Government has committed to investing up to €1.8 billion in cycling and walking infrastructure during its lifetime. The Road Safety Authority, RSA, also engages in public information and education to raise driver awareness of the specific risks to vulnerable road users.

As regards the establishment of a dedicated online portal for the submission of video evidence of potential violations of road traffic legislation, the Deputy may be aware that the current Traffic Watch facility allows for members of the public to report driver behaviour to An Garda Síochána. Matters reported via this facility are forwarded to the relevant district office for investigation. Similarly, citizens may make complaints to any member of An Garda Síochána or through the Garda website. I am advised by the Minister that there are strict standards in legislation relating to photographic evidence obtained by An Garda Síochána. While An Garda Síochána has confirmed that private dashcam footage may be used during a prosecution, its use must be in accordance with best evidential practices and entails ensuring structures exist around continuity of evidence. The Minister has further advised that any decision to allow film by members of the public to be used in evidence in road traffic cases would raise questions of reliability of and possible tampering with the apparatus used, and potential privacy issues. It might also raise questions about why Garda apparatus was held to a standard not required of private individuals, if both were ultimately to be treated as reliable evidence.

I again thank Deputy Cannon for highlighting this issue. I will raise the issues he mentioned in connection with Vision Zero and obviously the alarming increase in fatalities among cyclists with the Minister. These can be prevented because they are vulnerable road users. Deputy Cannon also mentioned a number of jurisdictions which have brought in a portal like this. If he wants to forward details of them to me I will pass them onto the Minister as well.

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