Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. He raised a most interesting point. When his predecessor was in this House to deal with road safety legislation, which of course has the support of everybody on all sides of the House, we considered issues like whether people should be required to have their driving licences with them now that we have moved to a credit card system. How does that make road safety difficult to enforce? I am concerned that people will use the provision that is being made for cases in which vehicles are stolen as a loophole. I have referred to the non-endorsement by the Courts Service of penalty points in cases in which people had been advised off the record not to bring their licences to the courts. I could also mention the current situation regarding penalty points and whistleblowers. We need to look at some of the things that have damaged attempts to promote road safety in this country. I do not suggest that should be done in the context of this small amendment this morning. It is a much wider task for the Office of the Attorney General. When it was suggested in one of the presentations that 40% of penalty points involve people with no licence, we said that could not possibly be the case. When the Minister's predecessor investigated the matter, it was found that this cohort of people was split equally between those who did not bring their licences to court and those about whom the whistleblowers have been talking. If we cannot get a tighter control on stolen vehicles, there will be safety implications.

When the Minister is considering the issue of road safety, perhaps he can examine certain rights that seem strange in the context of an industry that used to kill approximately 650 people each year. That figure has been lowered to approximately 160. The Minister was telling us earlier that this year's rate is similar to last year's rate. The recent deterioration has stopped. It seems peculiar that people do not have to report stolen vehicles. Action in this area would assist the Garda in relation to other crimes as well. Stolen vehicles are often hidden away and then used in robberies four or five weeks later. We need to keep a grip on this activity. The Minister has raised a wider issue. This amendment simply relates to a defence that is used. I do not know what would happen if someone stole my car and illegally parked it in a hotel for two weeks while I was on holidays. Some corroboration should be required in such circumstances. I appreciate the Minister's point. I will not pursue this amendment.