Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, and his officials to the House. This is my first opportunity to wish him well in his new position.

As the Minister of State outlined in his detailed speech on the introduction of the Road Traffic Bill 2004, its main purpose is to promote further improvements in road safety and to provide for the introduction of a new system of metric speed limits. The Bill provides for changes to the administration of the fixed charge system for traffic offences, including the introduction of a specific provision to facilitate the outsourcing of certain administrative functions currently undertaken by the Garda Síochána. It is a very welcome development that gardaí will be redeployed from desk and administrative duties as it frees them to pursue other areas of law enforcement. There are provisions in the Bill to address issues identified in a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the administration of the fixed charge system.

The Bill introduces a number of other initiatives, including a ban on the sale of vehicles to minors. Measures will be introduced to stop a garage or private individual from selling a mechanically propelled vehicle to anyone under 16 years of age. However, a 16 year old is entitled to hold a licence for a motorcycle under a certain cc and perhaps this should be re-examined. It should be specified that cars should not be purchased by anybody under 17 years of age because persons under 17 years of age are not entitled to drive nor are they permitted to obtain a provisional driving licence.

The adoption of the first national road safety strategy six years ago has been followed by a distinct improvement in road safety performance. That improvement has been particularly linked to the introduction of the penalty points system in October 2002. Credit should also be given to the national car test, the NCT, which has been responsible for putting dangerous mechanically propelled vehicles off the road. The Bill promotes a new system of speed limits and the outsourcing of functions relating to the fixed charge system, which is directly linked to the penalty points system, should further sustain that improved performance. I welcome the introduction of the conversion to kilometres per hour and the Minister of State has outlined the new limits to the House. The main changes to result from these proposals will be the replacement of the current general speed limit which applies to non-motorway rural roads with separate speed limits for the national and non-national roads. I welcome that the Bill provides for elected members of county and city councils to retain the power to make speed limits by-laws to provide for the development of special speed limits. Public representatives are aware of the condition and types of roads in their areas and what speed limit should apply to those roads. The range of special speed limits available to local authorities will be from 120 km/h to 30 km/h, which is from 75 mph to 19 mph.

I agree with some previous speakers who stated that 20 January 2005 is a little soon for the implementation of this legislation and I ask the Minister of State to consider instead 1 March or 1 April 2005. I welcome the fact that a comprehensive education programme has been developed and that both the print and broadcast media will carry notices announcing the change in the system. Has the Minister of State any plans to promote the change in schools because young people are very good at educating their parents, as he will know? Such a programme would be helpful from junior certificate year and upwards.

As a resident of the Border area, I am very aware that Northern-registered cars have no concern for other road users. I have no hesitation in saying they are a danger and a disgrace. I am pleased that there will be what I hope are huge signs stating that 120 km/h does not mean 120 mph because Northern drivers are used to miles per hour. I urge the Minister of State to speak to his counterpart in Northern Ireland and progress the introduction of an all-island penalty points system. Northern drivers show complete disregard for our laws and I live right next to them.

I do not agree with Senator Quinn that we show the same disregard in the North. The Northern system is very strict and if people from the Republic are caught speeding there, their cars can be taken from them. It might be no harm if we started doing that here also.

The Bill deals with the use of radar guns which is to be welcomed. This was the subject of a court challenge. The Garda Síochána is currently finalising development of a new IT system for the processing of fixed charge fines which is to be welcomed. I question the need to outsource this system and wonder why we cannot do it ourselves. What savings are made by outsourcing because I assume that to be the main reason for it?

The Bill also features an extension of the powers available to the Garda to seek the presentation of a person's driving licence where a person is suspected of having committed a traffic offence. A person is currently obliged to carry his or her licence and is allowed a certain number of days to produce it at a Garda station. Will the Minister of State clarify if this will still be the case?

Like other speakers I am a little confused about the insurance aspect of this Bill and I ask for more clarification. I firmly believe that a person convicted in a court of not having insurance, even on the first occasion, should be suspended from driving for a period of time rather than being fined. The amount of hardship and damage caused to somebody who happens to be in collision with a person who is not insured is outrageous. A family car can be written off by somebody without insurance and the consequences for that family are very serious and can last for years.

It might be helpful to make it compulsory to drive with vehicle lights on. I ask the Minister of State to consider this because it is a great help when driving and it should be included in the Bill.

I welcome the Bill and I look forward to the Minister of State's response to my queries.