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A FAMILIAR FACE was back in Leinster House today as Liz O’Donnell appeared before the Oireachtas Transport Committee.
The former junior minister is the chair-designate of the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan urged O’Donnell to ensure that the RSA plays a “naming and shaming role” in terms of publicly criticising local authorities that fail to maintian sufficient road standards.
The Limerick TD also asked O’Donnell what she plans to do about the “loopholes that you could drive a lorry through” in the GoSafe speeding system, whereby cases are being thrown out of court if individuals don’t receive their notices by registered post.
O’Donnell said that she couldn’t answer this particular question as she hasn’t “looked under the bonnet of the organisation yet”, but will examine the issue.
During the meeting, she also said that she fully supports the increase in penalty points from two to three for speeding and other offences, which was introduced earlier this year.
“It’s been proven that it’s a deterrent,” she said.
O’Donnell noted that the RSA must not develop a feeling of “laxity”, instead continuing to put forward its message encouraging all road users to exercise caution.
She described the fact that almost one in five drivers who were killed in 2013 were not wearing seatbelts as “extraordinary”.
The former politician noted that there was a “worrying” increase in the number of people who died on our roads last year (190). However, she said that there had been an overall reduction of 58% in road deaths since 1998, when the first road safety strategy was introduced. Some 458 people died on our roads that year.
The current road safety strategy aims to see a reduction in road fatalities to 124 per year or fewer by 2020. 166 people have died to date on our roads in 2014.
O’Donnell said that in the coming years the RSA will focus on a number of issues, including work-related vehicle safety, drug driving, fatigue and distractions such as mobile phones. A special emphasis will also be given to reducing the number of people who are seriously injured in road collisions.
The former TD noted that the Exchequer made €3.37million available to the RSA this year, but the organisation did not draw it down as it is now self-financing due to the revenue brought in by services such as the NCT, driver licensing and training for lorry drivers.
‘Big shoes to fill’
O’Donnell said that she was “very honoured” to have been chosen for the role and hopes she can “make a valuable contribution to a reduction in the number of fatalities on our roads”.
She praised the work of her predecessor Gay Byrne, describing his contribution to road safety in Ireland over the last eight years as “groundbreaking” and “passionate”.
Fianna Fáil’s Timmy Dooley said that O’Donnell would have the “full support” of the committee in her new role. He said that she had “big shoes to fill” but noted that he had every confidence in her appointment.
Dooley stated that O’Donnell, like Gay Byrne, had “never been one to side and allow things to happen against your will”.
He added that he hoped the Government would ensure there were enough resources in place to enforce the RSA’s strategy over the coming years.
Committee Chair John O’Mahony said that a transcript of the meeting would be sent to Transport Minsiter Paschal O’Donohoe, adding he saw no reason as to why O’Donnell would not be ratified as the new RSA Chair.
O’Donnell was first elected to the Dáil in 1992 as a Progressive Democrats TD for Dublin South. She held the position for 15 years until 2007, serving as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs for five years from 1997 to 2002.
She has recently worked as a PR adviser, lecturer and opinion columnist for The Irish Independent.
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“Roll up and see for yourselves how copy and paste works in journalism!”
@James Groden: watch as we delete all comments that don’t agree with our opinion and in some cases don’t allow comments at all!
Watch as we slightly reword Government press releases on various subjects where the public are told to get back in our boxes and do what we’re told and then turn the comment section off, because we don’t don’t want any dissenting voices.
Watch as we shut down the comment section when too many comments go against the narrative.. Breaking News! “Ten People killed in overnight raids in Gaza” Yea shut down comments on that one, as we don’t want People giving out about Israel.. Journalists my ar_se
In the past few weeks statements made by government Minister’s, the comment section has been closed. The taking down of comments that contain no personal or unacceptable comment but would have been critical of government have been removed. Bit hypocritical of the Journal.
@William slevin: respond to what? your mas ravings? No point. At this stage I pity you.
@establishment loyalist fascist lil joey:
I didn’t ignore it no offence I forgot about it…also its not a priority to reply to every reply you make to me which is alot…
But I think it was about the 70 year old assaulted in clare? I don’t know the circumstances of the assault but I’m guessing your employing it was done by anti mass immigration protestors….do you have proof of this? But let’s say it’s true I have no idea….I abhor violence against anyone unless its done for defensive reasons….if this 70 year old man was attacked by one of the protestors….then I would condemned such an attack as that infringes on the right of the 70 year old not to be assaulted for no reason…
So I would condemn such an attack
@William slevin: why willie and leave your mad raving influence others wrongly. Like your support for the protest in Clare….you know the one….I asked for your view of what happemed there on Sunday…and you ignored my question…..
Also you repeatedly ignore me asking you for proof of the false claim you keep making against me that I’ve incited hatred…well Where’s your proof…I want the comments and the articles where I supposedly incited hatred….
You haven’t so far because you can’t…because your a liar….
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