Results 21-40 of 1,014,245 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Neale Richmond) in 'Committee meetings'

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Question again proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Apr 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Nuair a bhíomar ag deileá leis seo inné, bhí an t-urlár ag an Teachta Bríd Smith. Níl sí anseo. Rachaimid ar aghaidh chuig an Teachta Ó Cuív. Tá seacht nóiméad aige.

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Violet-Anne Wynne: The issue of road safety has never been more pertinent. In the first quarter of the year, we saw a staggering 63 fatalities on Irish roads. I extend my condolences to all those affected by the recent tragedies on our roads. According to the Road Safety Authority, road fatalities have increased by 19% compared to the first quarter of last year. While much has been said in the newspapers...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Before I call on the Minister of State, I want to echo the sentiments expressed by so many people who wish to express sympathy to those who have lost people. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle was quite right in describing the increasing loss of life as a real catastrophe. The Minister of State can see from the strength of the emotions and feelings of people how this subject awakes a strong response...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Ceann Comhairle is right about the issue of driver distraction. Something that is being discussed and researched at present is car design and how it has evolved. It is as big an issue in terms of driver distraction and is being flagged by many researchers. The European Commission and the wider European research community are assessing this in the context of standards in car design. ...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Michael Collins: Every person killed on the roads leaves behind a family, friend and community whose lives are forever changed. Speaking of people being killed, I have been contacted twice during the term of this Government by people looking for help to get a disability certificate for a child named Maia. She is in danger of being choked by the seatbelt in her family's car, which is the very thing that...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Richard O'Donoghue: The Minister of State has been quoting figures from 2004 and other years. How many vehicles were on the road in 2004, the year for which he is citing those figures, compared with the number of vehicles on the road today? He said he wants to reduce the speed limits across the country, which will have a big impact on the transport network. What are we going to do? Our transport network...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Danny Healy-Rae: I am glad to get this opportunity to speak on this serious matter. We commiserate with the families of all those who have died this year and in all the other years on our roads. The Minister has to realise that volumes of traffic have increased massively, especially since Covid. The state of our roads leaves an awful lot to be desired. To mention a few places, we have been calling for...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Jack Chambers: That is what is happening.

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this and I wish the Minister of State all the best in his new role. The first person to be killed in the world in an automobile accident was in Ireland. Mary Ward fell under the wheels of a motor vehicle while she was travelling in Birr, County Offaly, in 1869. Since then the number of deaths on our roads has been catastrophic. As of 16 April, 63...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: I would like to make two fundamental points. Just before I do so, I would like to raise what concerns me most as a person who makes the six-hour round trip from Cork to Dublin and back most weeks, with one leg on a Tuesday and the other on a Thursday. The number of people who use a mobile phone when driving, be it in traffic or going down the motorway at 100 km/h or 120 km/h, is scary. So...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State. As we know, the number of road fatalities has increased significantly in recent years. There were 188 in 2023, the highest number since 2014, when the number was 192. Already in 2024, up to yesterday, there were 63 compared to 49 this time last year. This is really worrying. The total number of collisions is up 58 this year compared with 45 at this time...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Deputy Mattie McGrath is sharing with his colleagues.

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Mattie McGrath: We do not have much time on this. The RSA is not fit for purpose, nor is TII. They are too rigid and there is too much bureaucracy. We are trying to have speed limits reduced at dangerous junctions. We are supposed to have got rid of the NRA but I do not believe we have. We decommissioned the IRA and we are stuck with the NRA. It is impossible to talk to and will not listen to...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: Road deaths are rising because the Government is failing to employ gardaí. That is a stark fact and it must be addressed. The reply to an Aontú parliamentary question indicated there were 1,046 road traffic gardaí in 2009, compared with just over 600 today. That is a collapse of 40%. Drink driving is no longer a source of stigma in many parts of the country because people...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Michael Lowry: A total of 16 people lost their lives on roads in Tipperary last year. This was more than double the number who died on the county's roads the previous year, making Tipperary the county with the highest number of road fatalities in 2023. Nationally, fatalities occurred across all categories of road users, including drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, pedal cyclists and pedestrians. Sadly,...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Matt Shanahan: In the past decade, we have seen more cars on the roads and more younger drivers. In addition, those younger drivers are driving more powerful cars because it is no longer possible to insure older cars. This is an issue the Government should examine. Years ago, parents could buy their children a banger in which they could not go over 30 km/h or 40 km/h. Now they can get into a modern car...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I am sharing time with Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan. I thank the Minister of State for attending the debate on this very serious issue. I will focus on one aspect of road safety in my constituency of Cork South-West, namely, road conditions. As I have pointed out time and again in the Chamber, Cork county has not been getting an allocation for road funding in recent years that reflects...

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: It is enforcement.

Road Safety: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Brian Leddin: Enforcement is critically important. I agree with Deputy Tóibín. It has to be addressed. I welcome Commissioner Harris' recent initiative to increase enforcement on our roads. Others in this House talked about the Road Safety Authority and whether it is fit for purpose. I am inclined to think that as it is currently constituted, it is not. Its remit can certainly be looked...