Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I apologise in that I omitted to refer to subsection (1) which prohibits the holding of a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle in a public area. The word "hold" is defined in subsection (9) as "holding the phone by hand or supporting it with another part of the body". This prohibition, it is clear, does not apply to hands-free mobile phones or two-way radios. Accordingly, mobile phone use involving bluetooth technology, where the phone is placed in a cradle, is legal. However, if we find that at some time in the future there is sufficient evidence of infringements by drivers arising from phone use, then the Minister has the power to act under subsection (4).