Sean Barrett (Independent)

I agree with everything the Senator has said. To the list of those who have been praised should be added the names of Senators David Cullinane and Ivana Bacik for splendid speeches.

As of 25 June, nine more people were killed on Irish roads compared to last year. We have had almost a 40 year reduction in road accidents from 1970, when more than 400 people were killed, down to 186 last year. As I am aware this is a matter which greatly concerns the Minister for Transport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, who is taking a great interest in it, I ask the Leader to invite him to the House. If this is a turning point that an improvement of more than 40 years is reversed, there will be many dead young people. It is a challenge to the House which rose splendidly to the challenges it faced this morning to debate the issue with the Minister. Is it a problem of drug driving, older vehicles during the recession or that mobile telephones appear to be used with impunity while driving? I have noticed advertisements around the country - signs for worn tyres. What are they for? Did we need special care in the recent bad weather? This could be a serious problem after a period of such good progress under former Ministers, former Deputies Martin Cullen and Noel Dempsey and the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar. I am sure the House, as it showed this morning, would be able to assist the Minister as he addresses this sudden and unexpected problem which has arisen this year.