Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I refer Senators to section 7 of the Bill, which provides a clear legislative basis to ensure the road safety authority has a lead role in the development of strategies and measures to advance our road safety agenda. The issue of road safety comes under the remit of various Departments and agencies. When one considers its extremely extensive remit, the road safety authority will be in a position to engage with all contributory bodies to develop and monitor the delivery of a comprehensive road safety programme. This also deals with an earlier question on liaison and co-ordination with other Departments. The authority will play a major role in the development of future road safety strategies and will submit this programme to the Minister.

It is envisaged that the programme will form the basis of the Government's road safety strategy in the future. I also envisage that the authority will compile reports which address policy recommendations across a range of road safety measures. The authority will also have a role in overseeing the implementation of the programme the Government will adopt on road safety strategies. It will report regularly to the Cabinet sub-committee which the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, chairs and which, as I stated earlier, I attend. The Taoiseach attended our last meeting and I expect he will attend meetings from time to time.

It is not wise to set a timeframe on road safety strategy in legislation. Policy initiatives contained in the strategy may require varying timeframes. Including an extremely prescriptive requirement on the determination of annual targets and reviews could potentially have a negative influence on the pursuit of strategic objectives, which, by their nature may need to be based on the delivery of measures over a longer timeframe.

The focus of the amendments proposed by Senator Paddy Burke essentially will be addressed by the thrust of the proposals contained in the Bill. There is no great difference between what the Senator proposes and what is incorporated and catered for in the Bill. It is not necessary to be too prescriptive on timeframes. A degree of flexibility is important. I have no difficulty with the principle of the suggestion. However, some flexibility is required and what is suggested in incorporated in the Bill.