Seanad debates

Thursday, 9 December 2004

Road Traffic Bill 2004: Second Stage.

 

3:00 pm

Photo of David NorrisDavid Norris (Independent)

That is excellent. It is good to have something so that people with older cars can apply it so that they know what speed they are travelling in kilometres per hour.

What a diplomat we have in the Minister of State, Deputy Callely. He says that the concept that decisions relating to the application of special speed limits should be taken by the major local authorities was introduced through the Road Traffic Act 1994. He states: "Such decisions are reserved to elected members. This devolution of power from the Minister to members of local authorities has served us well." No it has not, it has been a disaster. They have not served us well. If they had, the Minister would not be changing the regulations but he is too diplomatic to say it. He does not want to get the backs of councillors up. He is right to take this attitude. However, I want to put on record that they have not served us well at all. They have made a pig's ear of the entire thing.

The Minister of State went on to say that there is a provision in the section to the effect that the Minister can issue guidelines. This is excellent but it is too vague. Is it possible for the Minister to publish these guidelines or lay them before the House? In particular, the Oireachtas should have a look at the first issue of guidelines. It would be a good thing if they could be laid before both Houses.

Included among the reasons for reduced speed limits is a school in the vicinity. I have driven in situations where there was a school on the other side of a roadway with a concrete wall which a grown-up hairy adult like myself could not get over but it was used as an excuse to vary the speed limit. I agree with the principle but speed limits have to be justifiable and real. If they are real, people will observe them.

I have tried to observe the speed limit on what used to be called the Naas Road. I have driven in the slow lane at bang on the speed limit where I have been passed out in the fast lane by a lorry and, simultaneously, by a private vehicle on the hard shoulder. They blew their horns, drove right up behind and flashed their lights as if to say, "What are you doing, driving at the speed limit?" This is because sometimes there is inconsistency and incoherence. If the Minister of State produces good guidelines that are coherent and consistent and indicates to the Oireachtas what they are, then we will improve the situation. I urge him to do it, even in the diplomatic and occasionally slightly ungrammatical terms he has laid before the House today.

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