Feargal Quinn (Independent)

Will the Deputy Leader draw attention to the conference on road safety referred to by Senator Finucane? Senator Ormonde spoke about a debate on the issue. I would like the Minister attending the conference to come here promptly to tell us what he intends to do about it, rather than to talk about it. We have done too much talking but have not taken nearly enough action.

There is an easy solution to the problem that provides good value for money. I saw the number plate recognition technology in operation last week and was impressed by it. There are two devices in operation on the M1 and what they can do is almost magic. They can identify every car going through and tell when it exits whether it has exceeded the speed limit. They can also identify many other details. In Britain, where there are 8,000 of these devices, a court case taking place today will charge a woman for driving without hands. She — it was a woman rather than a man, thank God — was putting her make-up on when she was identified on this speed camera. This is a reminder that these cameras can do far more than just detect speeding. We should do something about this technology immediately as it is an investment that would pay for itself. I would like to hear from the Minister what he is going to do about it.

Will the Deputy Leader draw the attention of the Minister for Health or the Minister for Agriculture and Food, whichever is responsible, to the announcement from the World Health Organisation the other day that bird flu does not present a problem if chickens are cooked? We have a thriving poultry industry here, but throughout Europe there has been a drop of 20% in the consumption of poultry. This is a threat to our industry. We should draw the attention of the public to the fact that if chickens are cooked, they are not a threat to health.