Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

All parties and Oireachtas Members wish to promote and seek the highest standards in road safety. One life lost or one person injured on our roads is one too many. The Minister can say what he likes about this issue but, ultimately, when an Oireachtas Member asks him or his senior colleague a question about the road safety authority, he can wash his hands of it. That is the reality. The Minister has not given me any joy on this amendment, nor did he do so to my colleague in the Lower House. However, I appeal to him to accept it. It is a fair amendment. It is a fundamental part of our democracy that agencies should be answerable to the Houses of the Oireachtas through the Minister of the day.