Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I join with my colleagues in expressing horror at the kidnap of Rory Carroll. I do not want to say more, other than that I hope the situation is safely resolved. It is a terrifying time for him and is family.

In terms of how we will deal with the reports of child sex abuse, particularly abuse within the Roman Catholic Church, let us not be sidetracked by issues of celibacy. Child abuse is an abuse of power by the perpetrator. The failure to properly investigate an incident is also an abuse of power, whether by church or State. This issue arises from the abuse and misuse of power and is ultimately a secular issue. Regardless of whether the church or State may claim jurisdiction, the abuse of power is a matter of concern to the State wherever it occurs.

Over the past six months, I have been checking the speed of juggernauts I encounter while driving between Cork and Dublin. I then write to the companies concerned, without identifying individual drivers, to ask whether governors are fitted on the trucks I encountered. I have received a succession of categorical assurances that governors were fitted, even though the vehicles in question travelled at speeds of between 60 and 65 mph, which is almost ten miles above the limit supposedly imposed by these devices. It is clear to me that something is wrong. NRA surveys show that up to 80% of heavy goods vehicles breach speed limits. The fact that 80% of vehicles can breach speed limits despite being fitted with governors raises a question in terms of road traffic policy.

Yesterday, this issue was summed up by Eddie Shaw of the National Safety Council, when he told an Oireachtas committee that no-one joins up the thinking or is responsible and accountable, there is no will or management and that no process is in place. It is time that we had a serious review of our road safety policy, which should not merely consist of a statement by the Government that is filled with bells and whistles and sets targets for the future. Progress and enforcement should be reported quarterly to this House because the country is experiencing a road safety crisis but no action is being taken. According to Eddie Shaw, nearly 200 people die needlessly each year because we do not have a policy. May we hold quarterly debates in this House on the situation with regard to our roads? The ongoing level of slaughter should cause a permanent state of agitation within us.

This month, the European Ombudsman recommended that the EU Council of Ministers should meet in public when it acts in a legislative capacity, which is the case for every other legislative body in the European Union. The Union does not have secret parliaments, yet the Council of Ministers, which I suspect is larger than the European Parliament in terms of membership, insists on meeting in private. I want clarification on the Government's current position, not on what will happen if and when the EU constitution enters force. Does the Government believe that the Council of Ministers should meet in public when it acts in a legislative capacity? The answer is a simple "Yes" or "No".

We still do not know whether some of the aircraft which land in this country are exempted from the legal requirement to provide a manifest of goods and passengers. Last week, the Leader of the House failed to get an answer to an Adjournment matter concerning this issue. It is a simple question. Are some aircraft not asked to meet their legal obligations?