Maurice Hayes (Independent)

Most of the points to which I want to refer have already been dealt with by other Senators. I welcome the creation of the agency and I wish Mr. Byrne well with it. It is a bit of a cod to put it in Ballina, but that is another story. It will create an amount of extra driving.

I hope the agency will have sufficient funds for research, which is very important so we begin to understand what are the real facts regarding who are the people most likely to be involved, what types of vehicles and road conditions are involved and whether it is caused by speed, drink or road design. It gives policy makers the opportunity to adjust themselves.

Although this may be a slight trivialisation of the argument, I am struck by poor signposting, which I believe is a contributing factor to accidents. One sees it throughout the country. It is terrible for tourists in particular. One follows a traffic sign, is suddenly left without direction and that is it.

The NRA has done wonderful work in improving the roads, particularly those which I use to go North. One needs stopping places on the motorways. When I get on a road at Portlaoise, I have nowhere to stop until I am over the Border without going into a town. There is nowhere to get petrol. It is all very well to state one can go into the nearest town, but people tend not to do so.

I support those Senators who referred to the need for realistic speed limits. Where the speed limit is manifestly low for the quality of the road, people will exceed it. This brings it into disrepute. I am glad the Minister of State will contemplate arrangements whereby disqualifications apply North and South. He should go further and harmonise speed limits. People used to driving in one jurisdiction suddenly find they offend when they come into the other. If there is a motorway from Dublin to Belfast, as I hope there will be shortly, the same speed limit regime should exist throughout it. That is very important because of the nonsense regarding penalty points.

On the question of drink driving, I have spoken with police on both sides of the Border who are equally concerned. I favour a zero alcohol limit. One should either drink or drive. It was stated that people should take a drink and decide whether they are competent. The fact that they have taken a drink might distort their judgment.

It comes down to enforcement. I have seen a good deal of driving in France over the past few years. French driving standards were appalling but one of the most remarkable occurrences of the past two or three years has been the improvement in standards. It goes back to Mr. Sarkozy, who clamped down for one or two summers. There is no greater deterrent or encouragement to people than the prospect of being caught. I commend the French experience which is quite marked. I wish the Minister of State well. He is going in the right direction and I will support his Bill.