Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 6, between lines 46 and 47, to insert the following new subsection:

"(5) Without prejudice to any other subsection in this section, the Authority shall further have amongst its responsibilities, the following:

(a) the registration of vehicles and retention of data pertaining to the ownership of vehicles;

(b) driver testing;

(c) registration of qualified driving instructors;

(d) maintenance of the national driver file;

(e) education of drivers, and promotion of educational and information campaigns for safe and responsible driving;

(f) maintenance, management and revision, as appropriate, of the Rules of the Road;

(g) maintenance of road signage and markings;

(h) policy advice to the Minister and certain other bodies as prescribed by this Act; and

(i) such other matters as the Minister may prescribe from time to time.".

Four different agencies, the Garda, the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Transport, and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, cover the matters listed in the amendment. The amendment proposes to bring the various matters under one umbrella organisation. It is a simple amendment to pull these strands together and make the road safety authority responsible for co-ordinating these issues. I hope the Minister of State will give serious consideration to the amendment.