Brendan Ryan (Labour)

We need to prohibit all heavy goods vehicles from passing through our major cities and ensure that deliveries are made by small and appropriate vehicles. It is probably time for us to pursue such a policy, which has been adopted in many civilised cities throughout Europe. I would like to inform the House of my experience while driving on the motorway between Newbridge and Naas on Tuesday morning. I was travelling behind a truck at 110 km/h in the outside lane of the motorway, which has a speed limit of 120 km/h. Such full-scale heavy goods vehicles are allegedly required to have a governor that prevents them from travelling at above 55 mph. I remind the House that although just 3% of all vehicles in this country are heavy goods vehicles, they are involved in 10% of fatal accidents. That statistic speaks eloquently for itself. We need to assess the manner in which the industry views itself. Certain lorry drivers insist on driving through Drogheda rather than paying the toll on the M1. They are involved in a commercial operation — they cannot be allowed to ride roughshod over good sense and proper traffic management.

In the last 24 hours, the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and the other House have debated this country's allocation of overseas development aid, which has become a live topic since the mention of the Taoiseach was given a raucous reception at a U2 concert last weekend. The Government intends to announce its new overseas development aid promise when both Houses have adjourned for the summer. I appeal to the media not to be fooled for a second time and to take the promise that is made by the Government with an appropriate dose of scepticism. The Government's failure to keep its promise in this regard is perhaps its most embarrassing betrayal. The public is increasingly aware of and annoyed about it. I hope the House can debate the Government's new target early in the autumn session, so that Members can begin to assess whether the Government is in earnest about the target.

I understand that the Government intends to publish a new Bill to outline the rights of immigrant workers. I have not seen in media reports on this matter any indication that the Government will ensure that the inspectors who will have to enforce the new legislation will be given the power to investigate, to gather information and to publish reports. The High Court decision that they could not do so left the inspectors in an impossible position. The proposed legislation will not make any difference to the homeless Polish people living in Cork who have been victimised by the Irish welfare system. They are not given any social assistance for two years after their arrival in this country. As a consequence, some of them are living on our streets. We should be ashamed and embarrassed.