Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

To date this year, 289 people have been killed on our roads. Last weekend was one of the darkest we have experienced in this regard. There is nothing to indicate that either the Garda Síochána or the Departments are capable of doing anything worthwhile to reduce the number of deaths on the roads. Take the example of the speed cameras. Often there is only one such camera functioning at a given time in the country. The penalty points were supposed to be a solution but they are being thrown out in the courts. We were also told that these services would be privatised but nothing has been done about it. If this rate of slaughter continues, there will be a greater number of people killed on the roads this year than in any previous year. I ask that an appropriate Minister, whether it be the Minister for Transport or the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, come to the House to indicate what proposals he has to reduce the number of deaths on our roads.