Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

The Minister has displayed a lot of common sense and pragmatism in the way he has introduced these measures, and there has been good compliance.

I will touch on a couple of issues which may need tweaking or, in some instances, a reversal of policy. One of these, as the Minister has acknowledged, relates to speed limits in certain areas not being commensurate with requirements. This needs to be looked at. A prime example arises on my journey to this House each week. I pass through 30 mph zones about a mile or two from small villages. This brings the law into disrepute. On the Arklow bypass, as good as any motorway in the country, there is a 60 mph limit, yet if I travel a back road, with bends, I am still allowed to travel at the same speed. We need to apply common sense in this area, as I am glad the Minister has suggested.

There is a menu of 67 offences which will come under the penalty point regulations. When the Bill was being debated in this House on Second Stage, I raised some reservations. It is quite sensible, as the Minister noted, to apply points to the non-wearing of seat belts and the non-possession of insurance. I am not quite so convinced, however, that if someone parks illegally, for example, he or she should accumulate them. We should keep the focus on speeding and major offences because if we move into the realm of minor offences, we may dilute the effect we are trying to achieve.