We will now deal with a proposal sent to the committee for further scrutiny. COM (2006) 570 proposes the retrofitting of mirrors on heavy goods vehicles registered in the EU Community. The proposal has been referred to this committee for further scrutiny by the Sub-Committee on European Scrutiny.
I welcome Mr. Michael Ó Méalóid and Mr. Jim Ellis of the Road Safety Authority division of the Department of Transport. I draw the witnesses' attention to the fact that while members of the committee have absolute privilege this same privilege does not apply to witnesses appearing before the committee. Members are reminded of the parliamentary practice that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person outside the House or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Members are also reminded that civil servants, while giving evidence to a committee, may not question or express an opinion on the merits of any Government policy or policy objective or produce or send to a committee any document in which a civil servant, official or member of the Garda Síochána questions or expresses an opinion on the merits of any Government policy or policy objective.
We have already received Mr. Ó Méalóid's submission and members will have read it. Deputies Shortall and Mitchell requested that Mr. Ó Méalóid attend the committee but they have had to leave.
Mr. Ó Méalóid, how many accidents could be prevented by the retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles? I know how they work but do you have an estimate of how many people have been killed or injured because such mirrors are not fitted?