Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

This amendment proposes a new section providing for a new offence. The new section requires a person to immediately report any hazard to railway safety which he or she causes through some accidental or negligent act. I have in mind an incident in Selby in the UK some years ago where a Land Rover left the road and came to rest on the railway. This caused a rail incident. Other incidents have happened here in recent years where trucks have dislodged material off the side parapet of a bridge causing it to fall onto the railway line below. In such instances, this section will require the person responsible to immediately report the incident to ensure rail traffic is stopped to avoid an accident. A person will be guilty if he or she fails, without a reasonable excuse, to report the incident. I hope this amendment will be helpful.