Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is not for me to tell the Leas-Chathaoirleach how to do his job, but my understanding is that on Committee Stage it is not good practice to raise any issue one likes in the Bill under whatever section one likes. I will, however, do the Member the courtesy of responding.

The speed limit review was raised the last time we spoke on Committee Stage of this Bill and on Second Stage, and I explained in detail how the speed limit review works, what was in it and how it will operate, so I refer the Senator to the comments I have already made on this subject on Committee Stage. I do not wish to repeat myself.

On slow drivers, there are offences of careless or dangerous driving and insufficient regard for other motorists. I do not have figures on prosecutions for these offences but if they are available to us I will make them available to the Senators. I do not see an alternative solution. It would not be practical to introduce a minimum speed on any roads. There may be all sorts of reasons why somebody may need to drive slowly, regardless of the speed limit - for example, if there is an animal or ice on the road. I cannot imagine how a minimum speed limit or something to that effect would work.