Niall Collins
Limerick County · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“We believe that EU membership is about being aware of the advantages of membership and making sure these are understood by the public. We want to encourage the Irish public to participate in that national conversation.”
“On behalf of the Minister for Transport, I thank the Deputies for raising these important issues. On 1 April, the Road Traffic Control of Certain Vehicles Regulations 2026, known as Grace's law in memory of Grace Lynch, were signed into law.”
“The Department of Transport is examining the issue of mandating the use of protective equipment for e-scooters and e-bikes along with other road safety-focused measures. Proposals in this regard are under consideration by the Ministers. The Department is also considering the matter of registration for e-scooters.”
“The strategy, A Career for EU, aims to improve Irish participation and success rates in EU recruitment processes for institutions such as the European Commission, the European Parliament and over 50 EU agencies.”
“They already benefit from significant Exchequer-funded rent supports through the housing assistance payment or rental accommodation scheme and, critically, must comply fully with the housing standards for rental houses regulations.”
“The timetable for implementation of all new and enhanced services is subject to funding, operational readiness and capacity. The public transport sector is currently experiencing a significant workforce shortage, particularly among drivers and mechanics.”
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“The Government also appreciates the desire to ensure that more individuals benefit from this approach, especially in areas where drug-related offending puts significant pressure on communities and the justice system. Any expansion, however, must be carefully planned and grounded in evidence. It should also be acknowledged that the rate of referrals to the drug treatment court is low and this is something that will need to be addressed going forward.”
“I can advise the House that the draft final report was received by the Department at the end of 2025 and shared with key stakeholders. The final report incorporating their feedback was received in February 2026 and is currently under consideration by the Department. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, expects to receive this report in the near future. The evaluation will provide an evidence base to inform policy development and decisions, including any consideration of the mainstreaming of funding and the wider roll-out of drug treatment courts. The Government fully recognises the interest in expanding this model beyond its current operation.”
“It operates by way of a multidisciplinary team made up of staff from the HSE, An Garda Síochána, the Probation Service and the City of Dublin Education and Training Board, along with the Courts Service and the Judiciary. Under the national drug strategy 2017 to 2025, steps to evaluate the drug treatment court and make recommendations on the future direction of the drug treatment courts nationwide are being undertaken. This action has been led by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in consultation with the Department of Health. The Centre for Justice Innovation was commissioned by the Department to carry out an evaluation of the court. The evaluation builds on the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use recommendation that the State should adopt a comprehensive health-led response to drugs use.”
“I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for raising this important matter. The Government is acutely aware of the real harm caused by drug misuse, which continues to impact individuals, families and communities across the country. The scourge of drugs presents serious challenges, not only to our health systems but also for the criminal justice system. For these reasons the drug treatment court represents an important and progressive intervention. The drug treatment court is a supervised treatment, education and rehabilitation programme that provides an alternative to custodial sentences for persons found guilty of certain drug-related offences. The court was established in 2001 on a pilot basis as an alternative to custody for individuals whose offending behaviour is driven by an underlying drug dependency.”
“I reiterate that President Trump, in 2019, and President Biden both visited County Clare and the visits were policed accordingly. In the Clare-Tipperary division, which the Deputy knows well, 661 gardaí were assigned to that division as of March 2026, which is a significant body of people. Every Garda division wants more and has its hand up for more gardaí to be allocated to it. The Deputy is concerned about the resourcing of the Clare-Tipperary division being left exposed while the policing of this event takes place. When major events are policed, gardaí from neighbouring districts are asked to attend and are pulled into the adjoining district to police them. It will not be the case that everyone in the Clare-Tipperary division will be sucked over to Doonbeg to police that event.”
“I previously mentioned that the previous Irish open which was staged in Lahinch, County Clare, in 2019 was a successful event. I also put on the record that in 2019, President Trump visited Clare, in 2023, President Biden visited Clare and President Zelenskyy visited there last December. Those visits were all successfully policed and properly and appropriately resourced by An Garda Síochána at the time. The expertise and knowledge are in the organisation. The Deputy asked about the recovery of charges relating to the policing of non-public duty events. The recent report of the Committee of Public Accounts on the 2023 appropriation accounts for Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána examined the cost of non-policing events. Ensuring value for money is a priority for the Department and the agencies under its remit.”
“Garda management will, as always, undertake a thorough risk assessment and put in place an appropriate policing plan tailored to the specific event, ensuring public safety and the security of all attendees. I am satisfied An Garda Síochána has the necessary expertise, training and resources to discharge its duties in relation to the event the Deputy referred to, which is to be held in the Doonbeg golf resort in September of this year.”
“The Commissioner is committed to ensuring the policing needs of the Clare-Tipperary division are fully attended to, notwithstanding the obvious demands the hosting of the event referred to by the Deputy will place on An Garda Síochána. As the Deputy knows, An Garda Síochána has extensive expertise in policing major sporting events, including previous large-scale sporting tournaments. I am sure he recalls the Irish Open was played in Lahinch in County Clare in 2019. There was a significant Garda presence and operation which helped the tournament run quite successfully and smoothly. An Garda Síochána has a proven track record of successfully policing multiple large events on the same day. We see that particularly with GAA events, which take place in multiple locations around our country on the same day and, indeed, at the same time.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question. The organisation and deployment of policing resources for major sporting events is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner and, indeed, local Garda management. As Ministers, we have no role as such in operational decisions, however, I am assured that the resourcing of policing requirements for high-profile sporting events is fully considered within the overall context of the needs of the relevant Garda division. The Garda Commissioner keeps the distribution of resources under continual review and we engage regularly with him to ensure An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to keep our communities safe.”
“I agree with the Deputy. It is my view that it should be progressed and it is also the view within the Department. I think the overall review that we are conducting will come to that conclusion also. I flag to the Deputy, though, that it is not provided for within the legislation at the moment, so we will have to come up with some kind of a system or an administrative fix to be able to manage that appropriately.”
“I thank the Deputy. I agree with him on this. Part of the work of reviewing the roll of peace commissioners is with a view to making it as accurate as possible. Obviously there is a legacy of records and retained data. Given the roll of peace commissioners goes back nearly to the foundation of the State it is quite a complex and lengthy undertaking but good progress has been made. Once that work has been completed, consideration will be given to making the roll of peace commissioners available online and accessible to the public. That will give them the assurance they can search online to verify a person is a peace commissioner. On identification, the issue is complex and involves a number of legal and technical considerations, including data protection and also appropriate confidentiality and personal safety.”
“Other areas of focus in the review include a review of the existing functions and powers of peace commissioners, appointments, removal and complaints procedures for peace commissioners, as well as the updating and maintenance of the roll or register of peace commissioners and consideration of making the roll available online.”
“Where an individual or a body requires further confirmation that a person has been appointed as a peace commissioner, it is open to them to contact the peace commissioner unit in the Department. The warrant of appointment for a peace commissioner is a unique document and as such replacement or duplicate warrants are not issued. If a peace commissioner misplaces their warrant they may write to the Department requesting a letter confirming their inclusion in the roll of peace commissioners. I can advise the Deputy that a review of the role and functions of peace commissioners, as well as of the appointment process, is currently under way in the Department and will include consideration of matters regarding identification of peace commissioners.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question. In line with the provisions of section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924, peace commissioners are appointed, and may be removed from that appointment, by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and each newly-appointed peace commissioner is issued with a warrant of appointment. The Department informs An Garda Síochána of all newly-appointed peace commissioners in relevant areas and indeed the Garda has a role to play in vetting all applicants for the position of peace commissioner. The warrant of appointment is an important document which should be retained at all times by an individual while they are in the office of peace commissioner.”
“I thank all of the Senators for their inputs and in particular Senators O'Donovan and Gallagher as former members of An Garda Síochána and Senator McDowell as a former Minister for justice.”
“To conclude, I again commend every member of An Garda Síochána across Ireland, the new Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly, and his team, and in my constituency, Chief Superintendent Derek Smart and Superintendents Andrew Lacey, Ollie Kennedy and Michael Fleming for their dedication and commitment to keeping the people of Limerick and Ireland safe. We are very proud, and rightly so, of the tradition of policing by consent in our country and the fact that An Garda Síochána remains a community police service. I hope that my commitment and that of the Government in supporting its work is clear. We will continue to work to ensure that we have the resources and supports needed to keep the people of Ireland safe and secure.”
“The Bill completed Second Stage in the Seanad on 4 February 2026. Officials are continuing to engage with Garda colleagues on technical aspects of the Bill and in advance of amendments being brought on Committee Stage. The miscellaneous provisions Bill, which will also include a range of provisions intended to free up Garda time, is also being progressed. The legislation will enable the digitalisation of documents, including bench warrants and charge sheets that gardaí are currently required to produce in paper form and physically deliver to the courts. Work is under way to progress a number of amendments on Committee Stage, a date for which is awaited. This legislation is important as the changes it contains will improve the administrative process allowing for more time on the street for gardaí and engagement with communities.”
“There will of course be protections and oversight in place, including a code of practice and oversight by a High Court judge who will report to the Taoiseach annually on the operation of the biometric analysis. This change will save valuable garda time and support their work and resources. The Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill is also being progressed and will modernise and consolidate the statutory basis for certain Garda powers ensuring that they are placed on a clear and accessible legislative footing. The Bill will reform legislation on search warrants in light of judgments from the Supreme Court and introduce clear statutory procedures for dealing with privileged material. As the law in this area is complex, this legislation will bring together much of the existing law on police powers to ensure it is clear, transparent and accessible.”
“These changes send a very clear message that attacks on front-line workers will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly. We are also supporting An Garda Síochána by bringing through legislation that provides it with the legal basis for the powers and technology required of a modern day police force. The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill will provide for biometric analysis that can be carried retrospectively on images gathered in the course of an investigation. This is in the context of the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of an arrestable offence, in the search for missing persons or for the protection of the security of the State.”
“The Commissioner has confirmed that criminal probes have been launched to examine recent social media posts that issued threats against gardaí and their families. For the most part, the relationship between the gardaí and the public is one built on very significant trust. We only have to look at the fact that An Garda Síochána remains largely an unarmed yet hugely effective community policing service. However, abuse or violence directed at gardaí will not be tolerated. Any person who assaults or threatens to assault a garda or front-line worker in the execution of their duties is guilty of an offence. Recent amendments to our law have increased the maximum sentence for assaulting or threatening to assault a garda or other on-duty emergency workers from seven years to 12 years.”
“Communicating regularly with people in communities about crime prevention measures has provided assurance and peace of mind to elderly members of our community in particular. We must also recognise that the work of the gardaí is not celebrated in every corner of society. I am very conscious of the fact that in fulfilling their duties in serving the people of Ireland, members can be called on to respond to volatile and dangerous incidents. I want to call out the unacceptable levels of hatred and vitriol directed at gardaí, sometimes in person, but mostly from faceless accounts on social media platforms. We are also aware of the very concerning incidents in which threats have been directed at the families and loved ones of gardaí. On this issue I want to be very clear: such incidents are reprehensible and unacceptable.”
“CSO data released recently shows decreases in most offences in 2025 compared with 2024. Homicide and related offences fell by 25%, while kidnapping and related offences fell by 21%, reflecting in particular the significant success of An Garda Síochána in combating organised crime groups. Our gardaí have been at the forefront of efforts to combat this scourge on so many of our communities. The activities of front-line gardaí have resulted in the prosecution and conviction of numerous organised criminals. Over the past decade, gardaí have made over 1,000 arrests for organised crime offences. Burglary and related offences fell by 13%, reflecting the continued success of Operation Thor, which focuses on detecting and preventing burglary and associated criminal activity by undertaking targeted enforcement and preventative activity.”
“It is vital that gardaí are visible to the public and that these patrols are providing a sense of security to residents, businesses and visitors. We already have data on the impact of high-visibility patrols in Dublin city centre. During the first six months of the roll-out in Dublin there were increased detections for public order offences, drunkenness, drugs for sale or supply and drugs for simple possession. Arrests and charges and summonses have also increased considerably. This demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach, and I am sure we will see similar results in Cork and Limerick and in other key areas in due course. Recent crime statistics show a continued reduction in most major crime types. This is the result of the hard work and commitment that the members of An Garda Síochána bring to their roles.”
“This surge in new gardaí for Limerick means we now have in excess of 650 gardaí in the Limerick division which is the highest ever. This has allowed for high-visibility policing in Limerick city and, in turn, has allowed local Garda management in Limerick to allocate and to push more experienced gardaí into the county and rural stations to provide an enhanced policing service in rural Limerick. In my experience, which is very different from what we heard here earlier, I have come across plenty of Garda checkpoints. I have also come across many gardaí on patrol. I have also witnessed many Garda days of action, which are multi-agency operations, while I travel the many national, regional and local roads across my own constituency in County Limerick.”
“As a public representative, and especially since my appointment as Minister of State over a year ago, I have witnessed at first hand the strong ties that An Garda Síochána has to our communities and the strong personal regard that people have for our gardaí. We must always remember this relationship is at the core of our policing model. Part of that connection involves seeing gardaí on the streets, as this adds to both the reality and the feeling of safety that this represents for people. Today’s motion very rightly cites the value of high-visibility policing patrols which we have seen introduced to targeted areas, first in Dublin, and then in Cork and also Limerick. The Limerick city Garda division has had 40 new Garda recruits and experienced gardaí allocated to Limerick this year so far.”
“We are also strengthening the use of other recording devices, including CCTV and cameras that may be mounted on vehicles, such as drones, to increase operational capabilities. I have often been told that the roll-out of mobility devices has been a game changer for gardaí. These devices make it quicker and easier for members to look up vital information as they go about their duties. They also allow them to issue fixed-charge notices at the roadside, and check the status of a driver’s licence, tax and insurance. These are the kinds of efficiencies that are making a difference and that we want to see more of. This Government will continue to invest in initiatives like this and enable An Garda Síochána to fulfil its mandate.”
“Much of this work is aimed at future-proofing the organisation to deal with current and emerging technologies. The aim of these new legislative provisions is to equip gardaí with appropriate tools for the digital age we all live in. We have seen that the introduction of body-worn cameras has had a very positive impact. Highly successful proof-of-concept projects have been operating in Dublin city, Waterford and Limerick. Body-worn cameras are curbing public aggression and preventing crime, and the evidential value of the footage is helping to secure convictions in court. I want to see every front-line garda equipped with a body-worn camera. To that end, and as part of budget 2026, €19 million has been secured to progress this at scale. This additional funding is critical to protect front-line Gardai and prevent criminal activity.”
“I also want to highlight the €69 million that has been allocated through the sectoral investment plan to expand, modernise, diversify and electrify the Garda fleet over the next five years. Following sustained investment in air assets, a second new helicopter will be delivered in 2026, significantly enhancing surveillance, search and public order capabilities. Funding is also provided to An Garda Síochána to further develop its drone technology as well as accommodation for the equine and canine units. Of course, increasing recruitment, building Garda numbers and investing in the Garda estate is just the bedrock of the work that is ongoing. The Government has prioritised delivering policies and legislative change that will support and have tangible impact on Garda work in communities.”
“This €911 million will also support work on new stations in Macroom, Clonmel and Carndonagh and a new HQ for the Dublin north region. It will also support a new planned station in Castletroy in Limerick which has been mentioned by Senators Dee Ryan and Maria Byrne. I know it also has the support of the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell, and Deputy Willie O'Dea. They will also receive significant investment. The construction of these new state-of-the-art Garda stations is a strategic priority for An Garda Síochána and will have a hugely positive impact on the local communities they serve. The additional investment in Templemore will support the Government’s target of recruiting an additional 5,000 gardaí.”
“The provision of a new Garda station in Newcastle West as a district headquarters has been a key priority for me as a local representative, An Garda Síochána and the local community. Newcastle West is the key county town in Limerick and gardaí deserve this new state-of-the-art facility to work from as the previous one was completely unfit for purpose. So too do the public who will use this to interact with gardaí. I have been on site a number of times to see the progress of this project and most recently with the Minister for justice, Deputy O’Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, with whom I have shared responsibility for this project. I was glad to hear and to be able to report that this project will be delivered well ahead of schedule.”
“Work is under way to increase the capacity at the Garda College in Templemore, with the support of the OPW. When that additional capacity comes on stream, we will be able to accommodate 500 Garda trainees on site at any one time. Another focus is ensuring Garda stations are fit for purpose. It is important that gardaí are stationed in modern workplaces that are up to standard. Late last year, following the review of the national development plan, the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, secured €2.18 billion for a justice sectoral investment plan out to 2030. Some €911 million of this is allocated to Garda projects, including the completion of new Garda stations in Portlaoise, Newcastle West and Bailieborough in 2026 and early 2027.”
“Recruitment into An Garda Síochána has significant momentum now and we are very close to having the highest number of gardaí in the history of the State. This week, the Minister and I, along with the Commissioner, launched a new Garda recruitment campaign. On 1 May, we had the most recent attestation of newly qualified gardaí. There are, as of the end of March this year, 14,495 attested gardaí serving. More broadly, the overall Garda workforce has increased from 15,980 in 2016 to 18,276 in 2026. More than 2,800 people have entered the Garda College since it reopened in 2022. Just under 800 trainees entered the Garda College in 2025, the highest number since 2018. In the first intake this year, 215 recruits entered Templemore and a further class of 201 entered earlier this month. This is the fourth intake in a row with over 200 recruits.”
“This Government is investing in An Garda Síochána and securing the resources that the Commissioner and all his senior team need to support members and support and grow the service. In budget 2026, an unprecedented budget of €2.74 billion was secured for An Garda Síochána. The increased funding will support a range of activities, and I want to focus on a couple in particular today. We all agree we need a larger Garda organisation. The Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, has stated numerous times that supporting An Garda Síochána, in whatever way possible, is one of his main priorities as Minister. Increasing the size of the organisation is at the forefront of that commitment. This Government is committed to recruiting at least 5,000 new Garda recruits and additional Garda staff by 2030.”
“I am very pleased to be here to respond to this Senators on this important debate on behalf of the Government. As Minister of State at the Department of justice, I am clear that protecting the security of the people of Ireland, through An Garda Síochána, and building stronger, safer communities, is one of our most important duties in government. I express my thanks and that of the Government to every member of An Garda Síochána, who show such professionalism, commitment and courage in guaranteeing the safety and security of the State. Backing and building An Garda Síochána is a major priority for this Government and, as the motion asserts, this is evidenced by the investment we are making, by the reform we are driving and by the personal commitment and effort made across the service and the system day to day.”
“I am confident that this collaborative approach is the best approach to implementing the safety strategy, including a clear focus on the importance of enforcement of road traffic law. However, lasting progress cannot be made through enforcement alone. Success will require a strong and collaborative collective commitment from all road users to act responsibly, comply with road traffic laws and prioritise safety in every journey. Only through a shared responsibility approach can we create safe roads for everyone. I thank all the Deputies who made contributions to the debate.”
“These tasks are non-core policing work. Critically, the strategy has been developed to be scaleable, thereby allowing the introduction of camera-based enforcement of additional road traffic offences in future, such as mobile phone usage and people not wearing seat belts. This will further enhance An Garda Síochána's enforcement capability in relation to deadly behaviours on our roads. As outlined by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, the camera enforcement oversight group, which will be delivery focused, will be responsible for implementing the national safety camera strategy. Senior leaders from An Garda Síochána will work alongside leaders of the NTA, TII, the Road Safety Authority, the Courts Service and our local authorities.”
“The National Safety Camera Strategy sets out a new approach to the operation of safety cameras in Ireland. Up to now, the deployment of safety cameras across the road network has been the primary responsibility of An Garda Síochána. Under the strategy, exclusive responsibility for the installation and maintenance of speed cameras will transition away from An Garda Síochána. A key strength of the new approach, as outlined in the strategy, is that it will ensure greater collaboration between road safety stakeholders, including An Garda Síochána, TII and the NTA, and build on well-established road safety expertise and relationships. By partnering with TII and the NTA, An Garda Síochána will be able to focus its efforts on core policing, including enforcement activities, reducing time spent on the management of the road camera systems.”
“These tasks can now be done within moments, without the need to return to the station making much better use of their time. The statistics show that it is being widely and extensively used by gardaí across the country as part of roads policing. An Garda Síochána figures show that members of the force checked approximately 3.7 million vehicles via their mobile devices over the last full year. That is more than 10,000 vehicles per day. This year, members of An Garda Síochána had, on average, made inquiries in respect of approximately 360,000 vehicles per month to the end of March. This information helps to enhance road safety. It also provides An Garda Síochána with more comprehensive insight into any offences a driver may have committed, thereby making it more difficult for drivers who act illegally on Irish roads to evade detection.”
“In addition, An Garda Síochána, through the mobile safety camera programme, delivered under contract by GoSafe, provides 9,000 hours of monitoring on our roads each month. This has increased from 7,500 hours in 2024. On 1 January last, An Garda Síochána introduced 390 new safety camera zones, including 55 community request safety camera zones, bringing the total to 1,901 safety camera zones nationwide. Increased data sharing is also having a positive impact on road safety. Every front-line Garda member now has a mobility device, which is essentially a mobile phone that allows them to access a number of specialised Garda apps at the roadside. These include the ability to issue a fixed charge notice, to check a vehicle's insurance status, if a vehicle is taxed and whether a driver is disqualified.”
“In fact, the majority of drug driving and drink driving checks are carried out by regular garda members. Additional speed cameras and enhanced data sharing are key components of this multifaceted approach to road traffic law enforcement. As highlighted by the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, camera enforcement across the road network has been increasing since 2024. An Garda Síochána, with the assistance of TIl and local authorities, has deployed nine new static safety cameras across the road network as well as three new average speed cameras. Effective detection and enforcement of road traffic offences through the use of safety cameras will promote better and safer driver behaviour, which will help to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.”
“Everyone who gets behind the wheel of a car or who is a passenger in a car has a role to play in ensuring that they or those who are driving behave in a safe manner. Such a change in current behavioural trends would have a far greater long-term positive impact in affecting road safety if adopted by all of those who use the roads. Behaviours are key to creating safer roads across Ireland. We all have a role to play where road safety is concerned. Ongoing enforcement is a very important aspect of the road safety strategy. In the modern world, it is important that we adopt a multifaceted approach to road safety enforcement. At the end of March, there were 695 gardaí assigned to the roads policing unit. Of course, all gardaí engage in the enforcement of roads policing as part of their duties.”
“The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, reminded us of the four main causes of fatalities on our roads that have been consistent over time, namely speeding, distraction, not wearing a seat belt and intoxicated driving. Tackling these dangerous behaviours can be addressed through road safety education, public awareness campaigns and the enforcement of road traffic laws. Over the recent May bank holiday weekend, An Garda Síochána carried out an extensive roads policing operation, the results of which were quite emphatic. Almost 4,000 drivers were detected for speeding during the operation. A total of 165 were arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant and 300 were detected for holding a mobile phone or not wearing a seat belt. These trends cannot and must not continue.”
“Delivering the action plan is a collaborative effort involving my Department, together with An Garda Síochána, the Department of Transport, the Road Safety Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, National Transport Authority, the Courts Service, Medical Bureau of Road Safety, the Health and Safety Authority and the local authorities. Deputies will note that there are many experts across a range of partners collaborating to take action and deliver positive road safety outcomes. Road safety is a priority for the Garda Commissioner. An Garda Síochána is committed to working with all road safety stakeholders to ensure that the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads is reduced.”
“Road safety cameras are intended to be, first and foremost, a tool to support safety, prevention and behavioural change across the road network. The enhanced use of cameras across Ireland will encourage safer driving practices, reduce the number of collisions and protect road users by promoting compliance with road traffic laws. Enforcement measures only become necessary in circumstances where individuals fail to exercise due care and responsibility while driving. In this context, camera enforcement acts as an important safeguard to deter dangerous behaviours and reinforce a culture of road safety for all. This is an ambitious action plan, but we need to be ambitious in order to reverse the upward trend in fatalities and serious injuries.”
“I would like to assure the Dáil that this Government remains committed to delivering the Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, with the ultimate goal of halving the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads by 2030. Meeting this ambitious goal will take us towards achieving Vision Zero by 2050. My colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, provided an update on the phase 2 action plan under the road safety strategy for the period 2025 to 2017, which was published by the Department of Transport in July of last year. This action plan comprises 12 primary transformative actions and 77 support actions. I welcome the progress that has been made too date, in particular the publication of the National Safety Camera Strategy.”
“I thank the Deputies for their contributions and for their very useful comments during this debate on the National Safety Camera Strategy and the important topic of road safety more generally. Road safety is a matter which affects all of us, and every member of the public is entitled to feel safe on our roads. Far too many families and communities across the country continue to be affected by the devastating impact of road traffic collisions. I am sure we can all agree that road safety is an area where we all want to see improvements and most importantly a significant reduction in the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. In that regard, it is important that we see a return to the progress of previous years and that there is a reduction in the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.”
“Moreover, it would substantially weaken the powers of the committees established to review decisions to refuse terminations under sections 9 and 11 of the 2018 Act. The requirement that the conscientious objection would not override professional obligations in medical emergencies is already effectively and coherently addressed in the 2018 Act. In conclusion, nothing is solved by politicising this very sensitive area. It does not serve one woman and it would not save one child's life. The Minister has indicated her willingness to engage constructively on the issues raised in the debate. We urge the Social Democrats and other Members of this House to take up that offer. By doing so collectively, we can do right by all of the women in Ireland.”
“Rather, it has the potential to create ambiguity on which conditions would qualify and could lead to wide variation in its interpretation and application. I am sure that this is not the intention of Deputy Cairns or her party colleagues. Furthermore, it would include genetic conditions that are fatal later in life. This marks a significant policy shift and a huge departure from the commitments given to the Irish people prior to the repeal of the eighth amendment. The proposal to decriminalise medical practitioners would represent a very substantial policy and legal change. A medical practitioner would no longer be subject to criminal sanction under the law even in instances where a termination had been carried out by acting unreasonably or acting unreasonably and in bad faith.”
“A national clinical guidelines programme of work has been agreed between the national women and infants health programme of the HSE and the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. In March of 2021, Professor Keelin O'Donoghue was appointed as clinical lead for guideline development in maternity and gynaecology, responsible for the review update and production of national clinical guidelines in relation to maternity and gynaecological services. It is impossible not to be deeply affected by the stories in the cases where there is a fatal foetal abnormality. However, I must stress that the proposed amendment would not bring clarity to the law.”
“As the Minister outlined, women travel for a variety of reasons, not all of which are related to fatal foetal abnormality. I acknowledge the motivation for proposing this Bill. Nonetheless, as drafted, it will not achieve its stated objectives and ultimately may prove counterproductive. As the Minister pointed out, the amendment as drafted to remove the mandatory three-day waiting period has the potential to cause problems for existing medical law, but perhaps that is an issue that could be explored further. On the issue of clinical guidelines, the HSE, in consultation with the relevant professional bodies, is the competent authority to develop such guidelines. It has the requisite knowledge and experience. Moreover, this process is already established.”