Written answers

Tuesday, 17 June 2008

11:00 pm

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress made in relation to road safety issues North and South at the North South Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23698/08]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Road Safety is a regular feature of the Transport Sector of the North-South Ministerial Council and progress continues to be made in relation to cross border road safety issues.

The area which has been most successful in terms of co-operation relates to the development of joint road safety advertising campaigns. There are a number of such campaigns active at the moment including the 'Just One' (Drink Driving), 'Get it On' (Seatbelt Wearing) and 'Mess' (Speeding) campaigns.

Work is also continuing on a bilateral agreement to give effect to the EU Convention on Driving Disqualifications by late 2008/early 2009. The mutual recognition of penalty points is a longer-term (3-4 year) project, which is being followed up under the auspices of the British Irish Council (BIC).

As separate penalty point systems operate in each of the three jurisdictions, this is a much more complex legal and administrative issue than the mutual recognition of driver disqualifications, and will require the passage of primary legislation in both jurisdictions in due course. A feasibility study on the matter is to be presented to my UK and NI colleagues and myself shortly. I am in regular contact with my colleagues in Northern Ireland and the UK and am due to meet both the Northern Ireland and UK Ministers later this month to advance these matters.

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