Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 17, lines 33 to 42, to delete subsection (1).

A number of Members said on Second Stage that members of local authorities, Members of the Oireachtas, whether Senators or Deputies, and Members of the European Parliament should not be precluded from membership of the board. Local authority members, in particular, have vast knowledge of road safety and issues surrounding it and would have a major contribution to make to road safety. It would be a grave injustice to somebody who has much to offer if he or she were to be precluded from membership of the board of the road safety authority. I ask the Minister of State to seriously consider the deletion of subsection (1). We all know local authority members, Members of either House of the Oireachtas or of the European Parliament who have much to offer in this area. They have accumulated vast experience from their travels to various parts of the world and could make a major contribution to improving road safety. As legislators it would be wrong of us to prohibit such persons from membership of the board. If the amendment is accepted they would not be prohibited from membership of the board. It is wrong also that a member of the board on becoming a member of a local authority would be prohibited from membership of the board. I ask the Minister of State to consider the amendment seriously.