(Dublin North-West) asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals his Department have in relation to the increase in the number of road accidents where motor vehicles not covered by insurance or road tax are involved.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Accidents.
8.
Stringent measures in support of road safety generally and against uninsured driving in particular have recently been announced on behalf of the Government. In addition to intensifying the enforcement by the Garda of existing legal requirements, substantially increased penalties for uninsured driving will be provided for in a Bill which I will shortly be circulating. I will also be introducing mandatory display of a windscreen insurance disc following consultation with the interests involved as to the administrative means. Steps are also being taken to improve the system of issuing reminders regarding payment of road tax.
Ongoing accident counter-measures will continue to be applied, supplemented by a number of other new measures announced in the recent Government statement, to combat the incidence of accidents on the roads.
(Dublin North-West): Is the Minister aware of the number of road accidents involving itinerants driving motor vehicles that are not taxed or insured? Many of those vehicles are not registered in the State.
That is a separate question.
If the Deputy has any spesciou cific information in regard to this I will be happy to consider it.
(Dublin North-West): The question was tabled for the Minister for Justice because I was aware of the number of such vehicles being driven by itinerants who are operating in a lucrative business involving the sale of colour televisions and videos. Will the Minister communicate with the Minister for Justice to see that the Gardaí enforce the law in this respect? Gardaí do not go to itinerant camps to check if the vehicles are taxed or the drivers insured.
I gave the Deputy a lot of latitude but he has raised a different question.
It might help the Deputy if he got a breakdown of the figures involved. According to the Garda Commissioner's report on crime in 1980 there were convictions for uninsured use in 28,188 cases and that figure increased in 1982 to 37,428. The Deputy can see the reason for the Government response recently.