Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)

Through cost-benefit analysis, all Departments can see the costs of road safety. We do not have a budgetary provision or methodology to evaluate the benefits but on examining the Goodbody consultants report, the benefits are quite clear. Each fatality costs the State €2 million and each serious injury costs in excess of €200,000, and that must be considered.

With regard to drivers between the ages of 17 and 30 years, when one mixes the lethal weapons of speed, inexperience and drink and drugs one gets the phenomenon we see every weekend. The simple message from this debate is that speed kills. I welcome the forthrightness of many Members here in stating what action we want taken on this matter. I thank the Minister for his presence at the debate.