Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

On my own behalf and that of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, I thank the Senators who made contributions on this important Bill. I thank the Opposition Members for their co-operation because we are all anxious that this Bill get through both Houses and be enacted before the summer recess.

The interest in and concern of this House in particular in the broad area of road safety is very evident from the contributions on this Bill and on the previous Road Safety Authority Bill. I welcome the overall positive and constructive responses of the Senators. Over the past four years, several pieces of road traffic legislation have been enacted. This demonstrates clearly that the Oireachtas is aware of the ever-evolving nature of traffic law and the need to ensure appropriate legislative supports are in place to promote road safety.

The debate this morning raised many issues and I will address as many as I can. I will first refer to the update on the ministerial sub-committee on road safety. That committee is chaired by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, and other Ministers are represented on it, including the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for Education and Science, along with the Attorney General. While the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, chairs the committee, I represent the Department of Transport. It meets regularly. The Taoiseach, who has a particular interest in this issue, attended the last meeting and intends to attend them at regular intervals. His support in this is very important. The Minister for Education and Science also attended the meeting. The issue of road safety being included in the transition year curriculum was discussed but no recommendations or conclusions were arrived at.

Several Members visited Australia and have returned with various ideas such as that regarding a booze bus. Mandatory alcohol testing is an operational matter for the Garda and it will devise guidelines as to how it will carry it out. Some speed cameras will be mobile and others will be permanent. The micromanagement aspects of the system will be decided by the company involved, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda. There will be no link with the fee paid to the private operator and the numbers apprehended by the camera system. I hope it will be the converse of what some Members thought in that less income for the State would be a fair indication people are seeing sense and observing the speed limits.

Senator White raised the issue of mandatory breath testing at the scene of a traffic accident. If one considers the practicality of this, a person may, for example, be unconscious and require immediate medical attention at the scene. The Garda can request a test to be administered in the hospital a short time after the accident. I accept driving under the influence of drugs is becoming a problem. I do not doubt the statistics referred to in the UK. The Bill refers to intoxicants which can be either drink or drugs.

Senator Bradford referred to the use of Dictaphones while driving. Section 3(9) refers to "a portable communication device, other than a two-way radio, with which a person is capable of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function". A Dictaphone will be covered by this provision. It is important to include them as they can be a distraction to drivers. The Attorney General has put much work into the legislation with the Parliamentary Counsel. The Attorney General can call on independent legal advice if there are concerns about a big brother approach in the legislation. I believe people want us to introduce mandatory alcohol testing. If it saves one life, it is well worth introducing. It is open to the Attorney General to seek advice on this matter.

Questions were raised on instruction for novice drivers. Section 11 will facilitate the introduction of requirements to undergo driver instruction. If such a requirement is to be introduced, the Government will seek the views of the road safety authority as to how best proceed. Education and the three Cs was raised. I recall the three Es — enforcement, engineering and education, integral factors to road safety. Senator Wilson asked for a system to remind people to renew driving licences. This is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Already an on-line process is in place. A renewal system is being arranged with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government which manages the national driver file.

Regarding the driving test backlog, proposals by Kieran Mulvey relating to the outsourcing of tests will be considered by driver testers today. If it is accepted, it will ensure 45,000 tests will be outsourced. It will not resolve all the problems but it would put a major dent in the long waiting list. We are anxious to see it reduced to ten weeks or lower. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, took this initiative after his appointment. It was an innovative solution but under Sustaining Progress the Minister's representative and the unions had gone into a binding agreement which meant it could not be implemented. Discussions were pursued and after today's vote it is hoped to appoint a company to deal with the backlog. This, along with the seven staff redeployed from the Department of Agriculture and Food, the additional 11 employed by the Department and the bonus scheme for driver testers to deliver an additional 40,000 tests, will significantly reduce the backlog by 2007. No one is proud of the long delays and backlog in driving tests. This is the first time a realistic and tangible approach has been taken.

Other issues will emerge on Committee Stage. Mar fhocal scoir, a Chathaoirligh, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl dos na Seanadóirí a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht thábhachtach anseo inniú ó thaobh trácht ar na bóithre. Tá sé fíor-thábhachtach go ndéanfaimis cinnte de go mbeidh daoine níos ciallmhaire agus sásta cloí leis na rialacha a bhaineann le luas, mar shampla. Ní ceart go mbeidh daoine ag tiomáint faoi thionchar alcóil. Ní ceart go mbeidh duine sásta tiomáint gan crois shábhálta, rud nár luaigh mé, ar ndóigh. Tá pointí píonóis ann anois for those who are not wearing safety belts. It never ceases to amaze me that people are still not prepared to wear a seatbelt. Our best guardians in this respect are young people. I hope they will take it upon themselves to ensure that no car should move until the driver and all passengers have fastened their seatbelts. I also hope people will observe the law in terms of speed, drink driving and the wearing of seatbelts. It is their duty to do so, and if not, they will be penalised.

Senator Bradford referred to signposting. That is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Over the years many of us drove roads we did not know on the basis of the old signs that existed. They indicated bends on the road and were quite helpful. I will bring the views of Senator Bradford and others to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and to the National Roads Authority in the coming weeks.