Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support my colleague, particularly in respect of his first contribution about slow drivers syndrome. In his response, perhaps the Minister can indicate whether any analysis has been carried out. What level of Garda Síochána prosecutions takes place? Are they significant or infinitesimal?

One hears a great deal about the emphasis on speeding and the danger it causes to other drivers and pedestrians, but we rarely hear about drivers who are slow, for reasons best known to themselves, perhaps because they are not confident, have just passed their test or are driving a vehicle that does not have the capacity to go faster. All of us, if the truth were told, have been behind long lines of traffic. I am not talking about agricultural traffic, which has rights because at certain times of the year when farmers need to be out on the roads and cannot do anything about that, but about the mainstream driver, particularly on single-carriageway rural roads, of which there are many, not the dual carriageways or motorways where one does see a certain amount of slow driving.

Has the Minister reflected on this at all or does he think there is a case to be answered? Senator Walsh is right to say the law provides for the gardaí to prosecute or follow up on complaints of slow driving under a certain interpretation of the Act. Does the Minister have a view on this? If he has not formed one, he might perhaps consider doing so.