Simon Harris, the Taoiseach, has expressed his worry over the current allocation of Garda resources towards road traffic policing. On Monday, he voiced his desire to ramp up resources, explaining that the nation is in an undesirable state due to the increasing rate of road fatalities.
As leader of Fine Gael, Harris anticipates a scheduled consultation with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) later today. He places his trust in this state agency, stressing the need for a comprehensive evaluation to identify possible enhancements. His assessment of the current year is grim, citing 63 fatalities on Irish highways, half of whom were under the age of 30.
Harris emphasises the gravity of this issue during a press conference in Dublin. He laments the backtracking of recent national advancements in this area despite initial positive progress. Harris, along with Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Justice Minister Helen McEntee, plan to meet with the RSA to discuss proposed solutions. They also aim to reassure the public of the government’s all-out effort in addressing the issue.
He awaits RSA’s plan of action, aimed at ensuring not just the government, but the Irish citizens, that every conceivable measure is being deployed. Harris is also set to bring up the lag in driving test schedules, an aspect the government seeks to improve.
Last week, the Taoiseach met Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. He added that the ministerial road safety committee is set to assemble the following week. The Taoiseach cites the Garda Commissioner’s commitment to expand the count of the Gardai in the road traffic department this year while seeking other means of emphasizing road safety as part of a Garda’s routine patrol.
Harris is disturbed by the presently inadequate Garda resources for road traffic law enforcement and appreciates the Commissioner’s difficult task of working with the existing resources. He, along with the Garda Commissioner, supports an increase in these resources, expecting it to occur over this year.
Harris also emphasizes the universal responsibility to abstain from driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“You don’t require a police officer to instruct you against the dangers of drug consumption and driving. It’s high time we began discussing these types of trends with our kin and colleagues,” he conveyed.
He supplemented, “We should examine and address this issue from numerous perspectives, our personal conduct being one of them.”
Jack Chambers, Minister of State at the Transport Department, stressed that the Road Traffic Bill, comprising of speed limit reductions, alterations to penalty points, and compulsory drug screening at the location of severe accidents, ought to be backed with a significant enhancement in enforcement. He added, “Enforcement levels have significantly deteriorated.”
He further highlighted, “We additionally need to introduce regulatory changes and suggestions concerning the reform of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), a body that has functioned over the past two decades. Post consultative discussions on their mandate, we anticipate presenting suggestions to the government in the summer regarding the possible restructuring of the RSA. Our goal is to intensively expedite our broader road safety strategy.”