Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister for State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Michael Ahern, and congratulate my PD colleagues for putting forward this motion. I listened with interest to Senator Morrissey expound on statistics, some of which were sad. The toll of 336 road deaths in 2003 was the lowest since 1963. It is a cause for concern that the toll increased in 2004.

To achieve a reduction in road deaths and injuries, an integrated approach involving a range of different measures is required. No single measure will achieve the desired result. The introduction of the penalty points system in October 2002 was very welcome. This scheme aimed to change driver behaviour. Drivers who incur points face the loss of their licence and will therefore think twice before further breaches bring them closer to the 12 point threshold. Currently, penalty points can be incurred for not wearing a seat belt, careless driving and driving without insurance. I have stated here on a number of occasions that penalty points should not be imposed on somebody who drives without insurance. A person who drives without insurance should be put off the road, not given penalty points.