The most challenged legislation on the Irish Statute Book is the Road Traffic Act 2010. The Judiciary, accident victims, advocacy groups and legal representatives have all called for that body of law to be consolidated into one Act. I understand it is a promise contained in the programme for Government. I understand that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, made a commitment to bring forward a new consolidated road traffic Bill, but through the work of RTÉ and a freedom of information request we realised that no work on consolidating that Act has started. Instead, the Minister wishes to complicate this Act further by introducing new and disproportionate penalties. First, can the Taoiseach say when we will see the new consolidated road traffic Bill? Can he also confirm that no further amendments of a disproportionate nature will be inserted into the Act until such time as the new road traffic Bill is brought before the House?

We do not have a date for the publication of the heads of the road traffic consolidation Bill. I agree that it is necessary. We have consolidated company law, tax law and social welfare legislation. Road traffic legislation is among the most highly litigated in Ireland and it would make sense and eliminate a lot of loopholes if we were to consolidate it. I understand that very little progress has been made on that particular project to date. The priority has been on updating legislation. Yesterday Cabinet gave the Minister approval to draft his Bill. However, we decided that two aspects required further consideration, namely the issue of graduated speed limits and the issue of people driving without having their driver licences on them. We acknowledge that the law needs to be tightened in these areas. We want to do it in a way that is appropriate and not draconian. We do not want to deny any citizens the freedom of the road or drive anyone off the road, provided they are driving safely.