Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Brady in his call for a discussion on the road safety aspects of motorcycles. There was a tragic accident last week in my county of Clare in which a young man on a motorbike was killed. The attitude to motorcycle accidents does not seem to be the same as that to other accidents in terms of the introduction of penalty points. This should be examined at the earliest opportunity. There are far more motorbikes in use in rural areas that there were in the past. This may have to do with the high price young people have to pay for insurance. Their only affordable means of transport is the motorbike.

Another aspect of road safety which is of concern to me – it is evident at this time of the year – is the illegal sale of strawberries, apples, etc., on some of the main roads. I have seen a number of quite dangerous late braking manoeuvres involving people who decided, at the last possible moment, to stop to buy these products.

I support the calls for a debate on health. The proposal that the Minister made yesterday seems exciting and interesting. With the changing of the structures in the health service and the demise of the health boards, the House should recognise the huge input of local politicians and councillors on those health boards over the years. There is almost an inference in some media commentaries that the problems in the health service had a lot to do with councillors and the people that worked on the health boards. We should ignore this and pay a debt of gratitude to those who served selflessly on the boards for many years.