Seanad debates

Tuesday, 26 January 2016

Road Traffic Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages

 

Bill received for final consideration.

Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

2:30 pm

Photo of Diarmuid WilsonDiarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister and my colleagues.

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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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.

Photo of Paschal MooneyPaschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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All Ministers, regardless of party, have a primary purpose in mind when they take office - to get through a body of legislation. I fully acknowledge the work done behind the scenes on the Bill and compliment the Minister's officials who I am sure are equally pleased that it has not been delayed further. We, in Fianna Fáil, are more than happy to accommodate its swift passage because, as the Minister quite correctly said, if it saves one life, it will have been worthwhile and will be the Minister's legacy. I wish him well in pursuit of a similar outcome in the Dáil and hope he will have time to achieve this. A continuing theme of Senator Sean D. Barrett's contributions on the proposed amendments was ensuring the legislation would have a speedy passage and be implemented into law as quickly as possible. I compliment the Minister on ensuring this. I am happy to accommodate him and compliment his officials on drafting what is a very significant body of work.

Photo of Pat O'NeillPat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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I do not want to delay the House as we have another Bill to deal with. I said a lot on Second Stage, but I would like to compliment the Minister and his officials. As I said, he is very proactive as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. He summed it up when he said that if the Bill saved one life, its passage through the House would have been worthwhile. The Bill deals with three issues, including driving while under the influence of drugs, which is a serious offence and has to be dealt with in a serious manner. We now have Jake's law which is Jake's legacy. There is also cross-border co-operation with the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. It is now about enforcement. We will continue to try to make the roads safer. I compliment the Minister on the passage of the Bill through the House. We had a good debate on it and we will see him again tomorrow in dealing with the Public Transport Bill 2015.

Photo of Sean BarrettSean Barrett (Independent)
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I agree with all Senators. I am delighted that Report Stage was taken today and aware of the Minister's satisfaction in that regard. I thank him and his officials and wish him well.

Photo of Marie MoloneyMarie Moloney (Labour)
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On behalf of my Labour Party colleague who has been active on the Bill throughout but could not be here today, I compliment the Minister and his officials on bringing it forward. I am delighted that it has passed through the House during the term of the Government. If we had not done it today, who knows whether it would have been passed during the term of the Government. As the Minister said, one life is worth anything.

Question put and agreed to.