Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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500. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the work that has been carried out to date by his Department and or the Attorney General to bring a consolidated road traffic Bill to Dail Éireann; the timeframe proposed to bring the heads of Bill before the Oireachtas Transport Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42832/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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It has long been agreed that there is a need to consolidate the Road Traffic Acts, which both this and the previous Government has committed to in their respective Programmes for Government. However, competing for resources with this objective has been the ongoing need to enact further road safety critical and other legislation. Notwithstanding this, with the passage and coming into law of the wide-ranging Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 in the summer of 2023, my officials subsequently held discussions with the Law Reform Commission (LRC) on how best a consolidation project of this scale and magnitude might be carried out.

Following these discussions a project team consisting of a principal officer and an assistant principal was established in Quarter 4 / 2024. In consultation with the LRC and as appropriate with officials from the Office of the Attorney General, this team has been making the necessary preliminary preparations for consolidating all road traffic legislation into one Act – an ambitious objective which the current Programme for Government is committed to.

While this is a large, complicated, and legally challenging project, the resulting end product will be an Act which is intended to form the basis for Irish road traffic law for decades to come. As such, a pathway to realising this objective has been identified and it is my intention to seek Government approval for this way forward following the summer recess.

In terms of timelines, it should be noted that while incorporating a proposed timeframe for this project, it is important to bear in mind that at this stage, any estimated timeframe can at best only be indicative. Depending on what legal issues may arise in this complex area of law as the project progresses, and how long it may take to resolve them, will be the key determining factors influencing the timeline for the delivery of a Consolidated Road Traffic Act. An Act that is intended to be more easily navigable by legal professionals and the general public alike, and which will greatly assist in the enforcement of road traffic law and the advancement of road safety on our roads.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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501. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 318 of 15 July 2025, the detailed provisions contained in the revised National Vehicle and Driver File Bill 2025 relating to data access by An Garda Síochána; the proposed timeframe for the Bill to be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42833/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The National Vehicle and Driver File Bill 2025 strengthens the provisions of the Finance Act 1993 in relation to access to vehicle and driver data by An Garda Síochána and other bodies. The Bill updates the Act, which is pre-GDPR, to bring it in line with current data protection principles. The Bill provides for the making of data sharing agreements with those bodies, as well as providing for limitations on the access to, and use of data both internally in the Department and by those with whom the data is shared. It should be noted that, in practice, these data protection measures are already in place and that the relevant provisions of the Bill are intended to underpin current policy and procedures.

The General Scheme of the Bill has been approved by Government, is currently with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. Subject to the approval of the Oireachtas, the Bill is targeted for enactment before year-end.