Vol. 486 No. 6
28 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will give resources to the Garda in the form of camera equipment or GATSO mobile units to monitor and detect breaches of traffic regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3202/98]
31 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself with the effectiveness of the various measures and schemes operated by the Garda Síochána during 1997 to curtail the number of deaths and serious injuries in traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3139/98]
40 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself with the effectiveness of the various measures and schemes operated by the Garda Síochána during 1997 to curtail the number of deaths and serious injuries in traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3175/98]
90 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself with the effectiveness of the various measures and schemes operated by the Garda Síochána during 1997 to curtail the number of deaths and serious injuries in traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3140/98]
97 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself with the effectiveness of the various measures and schemes operated by the Garda Síochána during 1997 to curtail the number of deaths and serious injuries in traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3176/98]
107 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself with the effectiveness of the various measures and schemes operated by the Garda Síochána during 1997 to curtail the number of deaths and serious injuries in traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3141/98]
119 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself with the effectiveness of the various measures and schemes operated by the Garda Síochána during 1997 to curtail the number of deaths and serious injuries in traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3177/98]
125 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself with the effectiveness of the various measures and schemes operated by the Garda Síochána during 1997 to curtail the number of deaths and serious injuries in traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3138/98]
129 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself with the effectiveness of the various measures and schemes operated by the Garda Síochána during 1997 to curtail the number of deaths and serious injuries in traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3174/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 31, 40, 90, 97, 107, 119, 125 and 129 together.
The Garda already have an extensive range of equipment to help them monitor and detect breaches of road traffic regulations including dedicated marked cars and motorcycles, unmarked cars with detection video equipment, hand held and mounted lasers and a GATSO unit.
GATSO is a system built into an unmarked vehicle which can monitor large numbers of vehicles at any one time and provide rapid computerised readouts of those exceeding the speed limit. They cost £50,000 each. I authorised the purchase of a second unit late last year and I understand it will be in operation shortly.
I am considering proposals from the Garda Síochána for the purchase of more GATSO units as well as a supply of cameras which would operate on fixed sites. I have asked that the proposals be considered first by the High Level Steering Group on Road Safety, representative of all the agencies involved in road safety, that is to say, my Department, the Garda Síochána, the Department of the Environment and Local Government, the National Roads Authority, the National Safety Council and the Irish Insurance Federation, which is urgently developing a national strategy on road safety at the direction of the Government.
It is clear to the Garda authorities that excessive speed, seat belt offences, drink driving and careless pedestrian behaviour are the major causes of accidents. Specific action was taken in 1997 to target them. In July 1997 the Garda National Traffic Policy Bureau was established. That involved the restructuring of the traffic section at Garda Headquarters. The bureau's mission is to focus on strict enforcement of the traffic laws and on the education of the public on road safety. The bureau is headed by a chief superintendent.
On 14 July 1997 the Garda launched Operation Lifesaver in the Louth-Meath Division, an area with one of the highest incidences of fatal accidents. That campaign was extended nationwide in the autumn. Operation Lifesaver involves high levels of patrolling, checkpoints and speed checks. There was an unprecedented number of offence detections as a result. In the period 14 July to 12 October 1997 there were about 37,000 speeding offences, 21,000 of which were dealt with by fines on the spot, 21,000 seat belt offences, 1,400 dangerous driving offences and 1,066 drink driving offences. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Lifesaver will continue nationwide right throughout 1998. Its effectiveness will be constantly reviewed and improvements to enhance enforcement will be made as necessary.
Road accident statistics including deaths for 1997 are rightly a cause of public concern and it is regrettable that despite enforcement activity statistics for this year so far suggest there has been no improvement. I know the situation is being taken very seriously by the Garda Síochána who are determined to do all they can to deal with it. It will also be of particular concern to the High Level Steering Group on Road Safety which may be expected to review it urgently.
For my part I intend to ensure that the Garda Síochána have the resources necessary to play their part fully. At the same time I must point out that enforcement alone cannot succeed unless the motoring public make a serious effort to obey the traffic laws. The fact that 37,000 speeding offences were detected in the three month period 14 July to 12 October 1997 sends its own clear message about our observance of these laws. The law is there to be obeyed and it is in everyone's safety interest to play his or her part.
(Mayo): Will the Minister acknowledge that the measures in place are not working and that something will have to be done? A total of 453 people died in 1996 as a result of road traffic accidents, 470 died in 1997 and 47, well more than one per day, have died this year, which means we are heading for an unfortunate tragic record again in 1998. I put it to the Minister that speed is the real problem and it is necessary to change our attitude to it. These were not accidents but criminal events caused by flagrant breach of the law. Unless we change our mindset and view speed in the same context as, we now view drunk driving, matters will not change. To underline the seriousness of the position, should we not introduce a charge of manslaughter where there is a flagrant breach of the road traffic Acts leading to death?
Use of a motor vehicle causing death can give rise to a number of different charges and, in certain circumstances, can give rise to a charge of manslaughter, if used quite deliberately to kill somebody. A motorist can be charged with murder, dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving, careless driving and driving without due care and attention. There is not an insufficiency of offences, but there is a need for a far greater observance of the traffic laws, in particular, observance of the speed limits. I assure Deputies that the enforcement of the speeding regulations is given a very high priority because it has been identified, as Deputy Higgins correctly points out, and I agree with him, as a major factor in road accidents.
The introduction recently of new equipment to the gardaí to help them fight speeding on our roads has been welcome in general terms. The equipment currently in use by the gardaí in enforcing the speed limit includes hand held radar guns, tripod mounted lasers, radar and video cameras as well as the GATSO unit. The statistics for prosecutions and convictions for speeding are impressive. For example, the number of convictions in 1993 was 29,590 and in 1996, 33,387. These statistics demonstrate the success of the Garda Síochána in prosecuting these offences using the very latest technology.
I have been assured by the Garda Síochána that its enforcement of road traffic law is rigorous and ongoing and that it is given the high priority it deserves in day to day operations. If one examines the statistics across a range of motoring offences over the past number of years, it is clear that the gardaí have been doing their work effectively.
The argument could be made, as Deputy Higgins seems to suggest, that more could be done to prevent deaths on our roads. In this context I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were 453 fatalities in 1996 and that the figure for 1997 was 474. In the first half of 1997 there were 26 more fatalities than in the same period in 1996. In the second half of 1997 there were five fewer deaths than the comparative period in 1996, that is, the second half of 1996. Although the overall number of fatalities increased in 1997 over 1996, the rate of increase slowed down and there is little doubt that this was due to the Garda Operation Lifesaver action plan.
As Deputy Higgins points out, however, the number of deaths on our roads is unacceptably high and, accordingly, the gardaí are strengthening their enforcement tactics. In addition, they avail of every opportunity to use local and national media to reinforce their road safety message. In this context they co-operate with the National Safety Council's special campaigns against speeding and so on. The inter-agency high level steering group on road safety, including the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda, is now preparing a road strategy document as a matter of urgency. This will be presented to the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government and will provide the basis for the Government's future action plan on road safety.
In regard to road deaths in 1998 and whether the trend is continuing, tragically the statistics for 1998 show —and it is important that everybody knows this —that if the current trend in fatal accidents continues, the total number of fatalities for this year could reach between 500 and 600. The Garda Commissioner has appealed to motorists to slow down, wear a seat belt and not drink and drive. I reiterate that now and I am sure I will be joined in that call by Deputy Higgins and every Deputy in the House. The Commissioner has promised an increase in Garda activity to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on the roads. The Garda Síochána is confident that the measures it is taking, including Operation Lifesaver, will lead to improved results in the longer term. As I said earlier, Operation Lifesaver will continue throughout 1998. I am satisfied—
I am reluctant to intervene but I would like to call Deputy Upton for a final supplementary.
I am satisfied that with the continuing level of high enforcement, media road safety campaigns and the implementation of the Government's strategy on road safety, the trend of increasing road fatalities and injuries will be reversed.
I call Deputy Upton for a brief final supplementary.
Will the Minister agree that the results from the introduction of cameras in the United Kingdom and elsewhere have been impressive and that, at £20,000 per camera, they are value for money? I put it to him that the use of this equipment should be introduced as a matter of urgency.
Obviously these cameras are quite useful and the Deputy will be aware this has been recognised. He will be aware also of the high number of on the spot fines imposed by the Garda Síochána for speeding offences. In so far as it is possible, modern technology will continue to be introduced and utilised in the fight against road traffic offences, including speeding. I have outlined already that the equipment available to the traffic corps includes GATSO, a sophisticated mobile radar video computer system capable of multiple detections, tripod mounted lasers, laser guns, in-car videos and other specialist vehicles. As technology becomes more sophisticated, the Garda Síochána will be only too pleased to acquire such equipment in order to tackle this extremely serious and urgent problem.
That concludes Question Time for today.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, does Question Time not continue until 4.20 p.m.?
The Adjournment matters are at 4.15 p.m.
May I ask the Minister when the information—
I am sorry, Deputy Gormley, I cannot allow any more questions today.
On a point of information, I intervened earlier to raise the matter of the question that was not taken. Today we have reached an all-time record in that only four questions were taken. How will this matter be addressed, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle? You have seen for yourself that the problem is the Minister cannot stop talking and, therefore, we cannot proceed through Question Time in a reasonable manner. How is this matter to be addressed in relation to the priority questions not taken today and indeed all the other questions not reached?
I join with Deputy McManus in raising this matter. My question was the next one to be taken. There is a serious problem with policing in the south inner city.
Deputy Mitchell, I cannot allow a debate on a question that has not been reached.
You have allowed the Minister give a Second Stage reply to every question.
I do not have any control over the length of replies given by a Minister.
You have. It is disorderly for a Minister to give a Second Stage speech—
I ask Deputy Mitchell to resume his seat when the Chair is on his feet.
It is demeaning my right to raise questions about serious problems in the south of the city. Something has to be done about that. It is outrageous. It would not be tolerated in any other parliament. We are getting a debate instead of Question Time.
Perhaps the Taoiseach could advise the Minister to be a little more brief.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
