On Deputy Booth's amendment and on amendment 113 I would like to say that, while the House as a whole welcomed the provisions of the Road Traffic Bill now before us, there was much justifiable criticism in respect of the number of regulations that the Minister will have power to make when the Bill finally becomes law. Many Deputies expressed their concern about the power being handed over to the Minister and that concern is being demonstrated by the number of amendments tabled here today.
Nobody wants to attempt to usurp the functions of the Minister. He and he alone can make the regulations and he and he alone has the power to put them into effect. I should like to subscribe to what Deputy Booth has said. While we appreciate the functions of the Minister's advisers, the officials of his Department, who could describe them as experts in all the various fields of motoring or of the various offences of which motorists can be guilty from time to time?
We on the Labour Benches have proposed that an advisory council be established. The amendment asks that a new section be inserted before Section 121. Subsection (1) reads as follows:
Before section 121 to insert the following new sections:
The Minister shall appoint a Road Traffic Advisory Council representative of local authorities, the Garda Síochána and of workers' and employers' organisations, to which regulations proposed to be made under this Act shall be referred for its observations.
As Deputy Booth says, a motorists' organisation is omitted. I would not attempt to nominate one in the amendment. However, if the Minister decided to include on the advisory council an organisation or body representative either of the motor trade or the various motorists' associations we have in the country my colleagues would not object.
The people mentioned in the subsection have a very great interest, not necessarily a vested interest, in this legislation. Certainly they will have a tremendous interest in the many dozens of regulations to be framed by the Minister. It is important that local authorities should be in a position to advise the Minister on regulations he may frame under the terms of this Bill. A serious burden will be placed on local authorities.
I have in mind the provision of different signs, "No Parking" signs and various signs mentioned in the Bill. I assume that in the ordinary course of events, the Garda Síochána would be consulted by the Minister and his officials in the framing of certain regulations.
The workers would be vitally concerned. I do not want to go into detail yet about their interests. The many amendments will demonstrate how vitally concerned the workers are with this legislation—the hours they may be required to drive, rest hours, and so on. An employers' organisation would be concerned, too, with the upkeep of their vehicles, the cost of repairs, the putting of lorries and different vehicles into such condition as may be prescribed by the Minister. It is not necessary to labour all these points now. The House will readily see how vitally concerned all these people will be not alone in the direct proposals of the legislation but in regulations of which we have no knowledge yet.
With regard to the proposal in amendment 113, the Minister is not bound to accept their advice. If such a council is established, a Minister would feel obliged to listen to them and their advice on various aspects of the road traffic code. Some might say this would create a precedent and point out that the Minister is responsible and is prepared to accept the responsibility.
The Minister for Health has responsibilities. The Minister for Social Welfare has responsibilities. So, too, have the Ministers for Industry and Commerce and Transport and Power. Recent legislation which provides for the safety of workers and the financial protection of employers provided for an advisory council. The National Health Council was established by the Minister for Health to advise him on health matters. It is representative of various organisations—doctors, nurses, the general trade union movement and different sections of the community. They meet frequently. They advise the Minister on regulations he may introduce under the Health Act, 1953.
A Factories Act was recently enacted for the protection of workers and to determine what safety measures are required. The Act carries with it the establishment of a Factories Advisory Council. So far as I am aware, that council plus the Health Council have worked well. An Offices Act was recently enacted. It also carries a proposal for the establishment of an Office Premises Advisory Council. The proposal to establish this council is not designed to usurp the functions of the Minister or to try to bully or browbeat him.
I know there will be people on that council who may have a vested interest. We all have vested interests in many things. Whether we be Deputies, civil servants or anything else, we have vested interests in practically everything. I do not believe the establishment of an advisory council will hinder the Minister in framing regulations. If he accepts this proposal, he will find that traffic legislation can, even by regulation, be improved to a substantial extent.