Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)
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I would like to raise a road safety issue that relates to a stretch of road that cuts in and out of the North and the South. The prevalence of unsafe driving practices in this area has increased in recent years. It has not been possible to curtail this behaviour because of jurisdictional issues along the stretch of road in question. Members of Clones Town Council have tried various ways of stopping it, for example, through the council, the Oireachtas and the North-South Ministerial Council and by meeting representatives of the PSNI and the Garda Síochána. Nothing concrete has really happened yet to actually resolve the matter. There is a serious concern that one of those who partake in these unsafe driving practices, or another user of the road, will lose his or her life or suffer a serious injury. The practices to which I refer are taking place on the N54-A3 concession road. While some of the joint operations of the Garda and the PSNI have acted as a deterrent, they have not brought about a lasting solution. The road passes in and out of the North approximately five times, which makes it very difficult to police.

Representatives of the local community are concerned for the safety of those who travel on the road on a daily basis, including those who participate in these unsafe driving activities. It is the main route that is used to transport patients to Cavan General Hospital. In the past, the emergency services have been delayed on the road. That could have serious consequences in the event of a rush on the ambulance service. Many commuters use this road to travel to and from work. The residents of the area go into lock-down, in effect, when practices like doughnutting are going on. The road is taken over by the dangerous drivers and those who go to the area to view their activities. As a result of the increase in social media and texting, these things can be organised at the drop of a hat. Crowds form and disperse again. The residents believe they are living in no-man's-land. Nothing is being done to assist them. This stretch of road will be the main route for tourists travelling to use the Ulster Canal when it is restored. That project will have an effect on tourism in the area.

Some options have been considered as part of the effort to resolve the matter. Both police forces - the PSNI and the Garda Síochána - co-operated with a joint checkpoint operation at the location in question. The use of CCTV, helicopter cameras, traffic calming measures or a new road surface has been considered. It was felt that the most effective and long-lasting solution would be to extend the remit of the Garda Síochána to cover the entire local area. That is why I have raised this issue with the Department of Justice and Equality. Members of the Garda are frustrated because they are watching this activity going on ten yards away, but they are unable to do anything about it if it takes place outside the jurisdiction of the force.

The PSNI has stated that this activity does not happen on a regular basis but this means it cannot plan for it or respond quickly. These events can be organised quickly through social media and they are sporadic and difficult to monitor in that respect. This activity is ongoing. It is being perpetuated and it cannot be stopped because of the questions relating to the jurisdiction. A road traffic accident occurred not too far up the road but the all the Garda could do was to alert oncoming traffic that there was an accident. It was a long time before the PSNI was able to get on the scene. This is why I am asking the Department about jurisdiction and what can be done to allow the Garda to go into these areas. I realise this issue cuts across several Departments, including the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. It is relevant to the North-South Ministerial Council, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade previously answered questions on the matter. I call for a response on the jurisdiction issue and I want to know what can be done. The questions relating to jurisdiction are preventing the issue from being resolved.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I thank the Senator for raising the matter on the Adjournment. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, who regrets that he is unable to be present due to other business. The Minister shares the Senator's concern about these incidents of anti-social driving behaviour and the impact they have on local communities. On behalf of the Minister, I assure the Senator that the level of road traffic enforcement is high throughout the country and that effective roads policing is central to the Garda policing plan. Enforcement activities are focused on the main causes of deaths and serious injury on the roads and members of An Garda Síochána use planned and unplanned checkpoints to detect breaches of a range of road traffic and transport legislation. Effective roads policing has been a critical component in the success of the current road safety strategy and the substantial reduction we have seen in road traffic fatalities during recent years. This emphasis in policing strategy will continue in future.

As far as the particular incidents described by the Senator are concerned, the Minister has been informed by the Garda authorities that the activity referred to occurs, as the Senator pointed out, on a stretch of the N54 and A3 that traverses County Fermanagh. Responsibility for road safety enforcement on that stretch of road rests with the PSNI. On behalf of the Minister, I assure the House that An Garda Síochána monitors traffic and performs static checkpoints at strategic locations on the portion of the road that is in the State. The incidents in question are of great concern and, the Minister understands, can include occasions when traffic is stopped on the stretch of road and law-abiding motorists are prevented from proceeding while individuals perform dangerous driving manoeuvres before gatherings of spectators.

In light of the seriousness of these incidents and the particular geographical circumstances, there is close collaboration between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI, with joint operations conducted to target these anti-social driving practices. The Minister understands that there has been positive feedback with respect to these joint operations and their deterrent impact and that the Garda authorities and the PSNI have been proactive with regard to road safety enforcement measures in this area and its surrounds. The Garda authorities have assured the Minister that these operations will continue to be prioritised in the future. Further, the Minister assures the House that An Garda Síochána and the PSNI maintain ongoing close liaison with local public representatives on both sides of the Border in respect of this matter, including local joint policing committees.

A delegation of local public representatives met the North-South Ministerial Council joint secretariat last year, but the Senator will appreciate that what is at issue is principally an operational policing matter and, accordingly, police co-operation on the ground is important. The Minister has been assured that this is taking place. Specifically, the Commissioner has assured the Minister that these joint operations to combat and disrupt the behaviour concerned will continue to be prioritised. Naturally, I will share the Senator's concerns on the matter with the Minister as soon as I meet him. As the Senator rightly pointed out, it is an issue of jurisdiction, but I am unsure whether that question is easily solved.