Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The Minister for Transport gave an absolute assurance to the road safety authority at its inaugural meeting in the Department several weeks ago that it may work through the Department. If it has recommendations to make, it should make them. Recommendations should be made to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding county and regional roads and to the National Roads Authority regarding primary roads, black spots and so forth. If the authority has recommendations to make to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government or the NRA, the Department of Transport will make the necessary representations. I am sure the road safety authority will make recommendations and I expect that briefings will be held with the relevant Departments or agencies.

The traffic sign manual, with which we are all familiar, will be the responsibility of the road safety authority. However, the various proposals in the Senator's amendment are unnecessary.