Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I welcome today's debate on the Lisbon treaty. It is interesting to see that of the six Independent Senators, four have already declared with two voting "Yes" and two voting "No". I believe the other two of us will declare today. I have been fastidious in my studying of the treaty. I am a member of the Forum on Europe and have attended practically every meeting. I am also a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs. I intend to announce today that I will vote "Yes" and I will discuss that later during the debate on Europe.

In spite of the budget difficulties, I recommend to the Leader that he advises the Government and the Minister for Finance not to endanger the investment in education provided for in the national development plan, particularly in regard to technology and science because our future depends on that. I was impressed as I entered a car park of which I am a registered member recently because the barrier opened before I reached it and as I left the car park, the barrier also opened. This is due to modern technology called vehicle registration identification which enables the machine to read the car registration as it approaches the barrier and it opens automatically. The reason I mention this is Senator Coffey referred to speed cameras and speed limits. Vehicle registration identification is a perfect way of ensuring speed cameras work in a totally different way from what we are used to in cases where people speed up and slow down. This technology could be deployed on every road in Ireland in speed cameras. As one travels between cameras, if one has reached the next camera quicker than one should have, one could be challenged in court immediately.

I was approached by a citizen, Neville Brennan, with a suggestion recently. In the case of the new Eazy Pass for all tolls in Ireland, would it not be a great idea to give people the opportunity to attach the pass to their tax discs? They could have the option to use it. The concept of using technology to do that is worthy of consideration and I intend to pass on that suggestion to the Minister for Transport because it is one sure way of using technology to reduce costs while being of huge benefit to citizens.