Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators O'Toole, Hannigan, Walsh and Buttimer expressed their serious concerns regarding what last night's "Prime Time Investigates" programme brought to our attention. We are all extremely annoyed, disappointed and shocked by certain parts of the well put together programme. The Road Safety Authority has a serious obligation in this regard, as was pointed out to the House by Senator Walsh who has a great deal of expertise in this area. Why does the Road Safety Authority not include in its next report that tachographs should be introduced which disconnect the ignition from the engine when the driver has driven for a certain period of time? That is simple technology which is available.

The Road Safety Authority has done an excellent job in recent years and I worked closely with it on insurance reform when I was Chairman of the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business. I call on it to introduce a short report, as a matter of urgency, to inform the Government that this is what it proposes. Last night we saw on our television screens someone having to drive for 100 hours almost continuously. That is suicide in this occupation. I used to drive 60,000 miles a year. This is a serious difficulty and it is a menace to those who use our roads within the law.

Senators O'Toole, Alex White and Coghlan pointed out matters pertaining to the banks and the challenge that faces the country. Last Friday, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, asked the institutions covered by the Government's guarantee scheme to consider the contributions they can make to the economy through appropriate credit initiatives with regard to small and medium-sized businesses and otherwise and to come back to him on this matter within the next ten working days.