Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators for what they have just done. The passage of the Bill through the Seanad is immensely helpful in dealing with the issue of road safety. Every Senator has touched on the fact that every life lost on the roads is one too many. The country has made huge progress in reducing the loss of life. At its awful peak in dealing with this tragedy, over 600 people a year were being killed on the roads. We have reduced that figure over a number of years and it is to the credit of all Governments that this matter has been pursued. Driving while intoxicated and with the presence of drugs in one's system is a new offence in pursuing the agenda of road safety. The Bill passing through the Seanad is a very important step in making progress in that regard. It is my hope that, owing to the fact that we will implement this legislation and empower gardaí to deal with the matter, there will be people alive at the end of this year who would otherwise not be. I genuinely thank the House for dealing with the Bill in the way it has.

I acknowledge the work of all my officials on the Bill. While on the surface the Bill may appear quite simple, as one Senator described it, the work done on it has been anything but simple. I thank my officials and everybody involved in the Department for the huge amount work done in producing the Bill.