Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I intend to accept this amendment. We introduced the provisions in the Bill relating to CCTV as amendments on Committee Stage. As I explained then, the reason we needed to address this issue was that it had come to our attention that the systems of cameras used by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, and local authorities to monitor traffic and assist with traffic management, as well as with enforcement, did not have a proper underpinning in law. The CCTV provisions we have inserted are designed to capture what TII and local authorities do and the infrastructure they currently have.

The issue of using cameras on buses is one which is also now being explored. It is part of our road safety strategy action 122, which states we will: "Examine the feasibility of utilising bus mounted cameras to detect and enforce illegal parking in bus lanes and if appropriate make recommendations for implementation". This action, which is being led by the National Transport Authority, NTA, is due for completion by the end of the year.

Other legislative provisions may be more appropriate, rather than this legislation, which might form the legal authority for such bus-mounted cameras. I believe, however, that the restriction of the definition such that it only applies to "fixed" cameras is not necessary, and therefore, as I said, I am happy to agree to the amendment.

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