Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)

Like other speakers I welcome the Minister and commend him on bringing the Bill before the House. It has been a tough week on solicitors. Between the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill and the Road Traffic Bill solicitors will find very little to challenge in future when they go to court. This Bill will also make it tougher on drivers and rightly so given that the Minister said that approximately 6,000 drivers who were breathalysed had twice the legal limit of alcohol in their system. That is an appalling statistic given the length of time over which we have been trying to address this subject. People are still willing, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., to go on the road with twice the legal limit of alcohol in their system. I am pleased this Bill has been introduced. As Senator O'Toole said, there is nothing as annoying as to see a Bill found wanting in respect of a loophole in the courts and where solicitors drive a wedge in a Bill and find a loophole for a person to get off. I am delighted the loophole is being closed off.

While this has been a very tough week on solicitors, it will also make things tougher for drivers. When random testing is introduced and if what I believe to be Senator Browne's proposal is accepted, namely, that one should have to carry a clean medical certificate when driving, a health warning will be attached to driving to the effect that one had better get on a bus or train. This will reduce the number of cars on our roads. The Minister will have to invest a lot more money in public transport when he takes on board Senator Browne's proposals. I welcome the Bill. I will not delay it any longer and I commend it to the House.