John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I share the views expressed by the Senator who called for a debate on road safety. However, penalties will not create a situation where people might drive more safely. I have raised in the House previously the possibility, in conjunction with what has been done by the Houses of the Oireachtas, that the insurance companies, which have increased their profits significantly with the PIAB and the MIAB, respond by asking young drivers to install speed restricters so that they cannot drive above a certain speed. If they were to accept those speed restricters they would get significantly reduced insurance costs.

A Member on the Opposition side of the House has vociferously called for the establishment of a select committee of the House. However, Senator Norris said in the House last week that the American state was a criminal regime. That is a very serious and inaccurate statement.