Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I join others in asking the Leader for a debate on transport and the penalty points system in the new session. I reject the claims by Senator Ulick Burke that it is a failure of Government on the basis that the penalty points system to date has shown that the number of fatalities on our roads is down by 50 in the year to date.

While I regret very much the terrible carnage on our roads at the weekend, there is a case to be made for the Garda to refocus its efforts given that the cameras and speed traps are predominately on the widest stretches of road, on dual carriageways and bypasses. If the focus was more on rural Ireland and the smaller roads where accidents take place there would be a genuine chance to reduce the number of accidents.

I condemn the Irish Insurance Federation who consistently move the goalposts. The penalty points system has shown that the number of deaths has been reduced and that this has saved these companies millions of euro, yet we read in today's newspaper that they are moving the goalposts and are looking for sustained enforcement. This is not acceptable. I condemn them as a whole but commend Hibernian which has committed to do it. For the most part, insurance companies will not reduce insurance premiums. This is a disgrace.