Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I congratulate my colleague, Senator Fitzgerald, on raising the serious matter of road safety. Its seriousness has been sadly underlined by events in the past week or ten days. That we have not successfully put speed cameras in place is a significant failure of Government. Will the Leader request that immediate action be taken on that?

Will the Leader also ask the relevant Minister to consider the option of requiring a person to produce evidence of having taken driving lessons before he or she obtains a provisional driving licence? I have no scientific evidence but have considerable anecdotal evidence to support the contention that people who undergo formal driving lessons are much better drivers. Many people are taught by a friend, learn how to drive in a rudimentary fashion and then obtain a provisional licence. A person should be required to produce evidence of having taken driving lessons and perhaps the Leader would request this.

Will the Leader suggest to the relevant Minister that a person be required to produce evidence that his or her car is insured before it leaves the garage? A young person, be they a national or non-national, can take a car out of a garage without insurance. They should be required to produce formal evidence of insurance.

Drug testing should be introduced on roads in addition to alcohol testing. The Leader should put it to the relevant Minister that while we must factor in people who take normal medication, people driving under the influence of illegal drugs should be apprehended and taken off the roads.

The issue of different speeds for driving on wet roads should be taken into account.