Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)

One issue that is really getting to me is the issue of jay-walking. Yesterday I was saddened to learn of a pedestrian being struck on the N11 as he was crossing the road. Although the person was injured, I thank God he did not die. In the context of everything that is happening in Europe and Ireland, it does not seem like something that warrants attention but of the approximately 200 fatalities on record for last year, 38 involved pedestrians. Yesterday, I witnessed somebody walking across the road. I was driving and visibility was not great because it was quite sunny. The pedestrian knocked on my window as though I was in the wrong. I do not know if I should table a Private Member's motion on the issue of jaywalking. It is a practice that takes place under the radar and we are all guilty of it. I do it myself on occasion but the practice is policed more heavily in other countries and something needs to be done about it in this country.

I support Senator Mullen's comments on media standards. It is not acceptable for a journalist to claim that politicians do not have the best interests of the public at heart. That is the case for some politicians who have their own interests at heart.