asked the Minister for Justice the number of people killed in accidents involving tractors in the past five years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tractor Fatalities.
75.
The information requested is not available in the statistics furnished to my Department.
Surely the Minister is aware that 60 or 70 people have been killed and would he not consider asking the manufacturers to build a cab on the tractor before it is sold? If that were done, there would be no danger of people being killed if the tractor overturns.
The Minister for Local Government has given a lot of attention to this matter——
But this was mooted five years ago at our county committee of agriculture and we were told at that time it was being looked into. Since then, we have not heard of anything being done.
I am not aware of what precisely the Deputy wishes to have done.
To have a steel cab built on which would prevent the tractor from killing the unfortunate drivers and possibly others, if it overturns.
I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Justice but I think this is mainly a matter for the Minister for Local Government, although naturally the Minister for Justice and I would have an interest in it also.
Is the Minister aware that at present there is a congressional inquiry in the US on this question of incorporating safety factors in the manufacture of motor cars? Does he not think that this relatively simple suggestion put forward by Deputy L'Estrange would very materially contribute to the avoidance of unfortunate fatalities connected with the operation of tractors? If that is so, would he not in some capacity, as the great Poohbah of the Government, as Minister for Justice or Agriculture or Local Government, consult with the assemblers of tractors in this country as to whether this simple remedy would not contribute to the elimination of such fatalities?
I shall commune with myself. I am not sure it is generally accepted that this suggestion is the answer.
It seems to me a very good suggestion and worthy of examination.