Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I agree with what was said by most of the Senators in that we must save lives where possible. I welcome the initiatives of the Road Safety Authority and other bodies and also the reduction in the loss of life over recent years, but much more can be done. I and other members of the Joint Committee on Transport visited Australia during the last plenary session and saw the very advanced up-to-date systems in that country. It seems we must go to Australia for everything because we are now considering its health service model as well. We should be able to take the initiative ourselves.

At a meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport, I spoke to Mr. Barry of the National Roads Authority on the recently opened Charlestown bypass. I was hoping the development would involve a two-plus-one carriageway and Mr. Barry stated there would be ample opportunity for motorists to pass others on the stretch of road in question which is nearly 18 km in length. However, if one travels on the road one will note there is a continuous white line on almost all of it. I cannot understand why either of the lanes of a two-lane carriageway could not be a little wider or why greater use could not be made of the hard shoulder, nor can I understand why it could not be converted into a two-plus-one carriageway. If there is even a small amount of traffic on the Charlestown bypass, one cannot pass other motorists.

I agree with the use of fixed cameras. Senator Ellis drew attention to the fixed camera at the Lucan Spa Hotel. Everybody knows it is there and slows down but Senator Quinn stated that if there were another further down the carriageway, the authorities would know whether motorists were breaking the speed limit because they would know the time it takes to travel between the two. We must consider this and I would welcome the placing of many more fixed cameras on the roads by the Government or Road Safety Authority.

Local authorities can do more to prevent speeding on bad sections of county roads but they need funding to put the appropriate notices and speed limit signs in place. A special grant should be made available to local authorities to achieve this because it is in everybody's interest. Local authority members recognise they should do more to reduce speed on certain roads but they do not have the necessary manpower or funding.