Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

Could we discuss the Bill today? A number of people will be left at sea by the time the Taoiseach gets to his feet. We have a responsibility to wish all the new Ministers the best of luck when the announcement is made. They have a difficult job to do over the next two years, undoing all the mistakes of the past seven years. This side of the House has no faith in this new sharing and caring all-encompassing Government which the Taoiseach will shortly announce. Be that as it may, however, we will wait to see its shape.

It is important to put on record our congratulations to Deputies McCreevy and John Bruton, two senior Irish politicians who have been given significant positions over the past couple of months. I extend our congratulations to the new Commissioner, Deputy McCreevy, and wish him well in his post. In particular, we thank the Government with regard to the appointment of Deputy John Bruton to the post of EU ambassador. It is significant that the Government supported that posting and that a small country such as Ireland can secure such a posting. It bodes well for parliamentary democracy in this country and says much about how Ireland is viewed by other EU member states.

As it now appears likely that there will be a new Minister for Transport, although the Leader is not smiling at that prospect, could she arrange a debate over the next week or so on the shambles of the penalty points system? This House played a major role in the debate on the introduction of penalty points and it is a disgrace that some years later, we still do not have an efficient system in place. The new Minister, whoever it will be, must come to the House and explain what measures are being put in place to ensure that the public has confidence in the penalty points system and that the system does what it is supposed to do, that is, change driver behaviour and penalise those who cannot drive properly on our roads. It is urgent that such a debate take place.