In my role as Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport, I again want to highlight the crisis we now have on Irish roads. Already this year, 37 lives have been lost, which is up on the previous year. Most experts agree that the biggest cause of fatalities on Irish roads is driver behaviour, and what shapes driver behaviour more than anything else is enforcement on our roads. I, like many more, was shocked, following on from the December operation by An Garda Síochána, by the operation over the past week during St. Patrick's week when 188 drivers were arrested for drunk or drug driving, 4,250 fines were issued for speeding and 450 fines were issued for either use of a mobile phone or not wearing a seat belt. We need to strengthen our roads policing unit. To what extent are we engaging with the Garda Commissioner with a view to targets for our roads policing unit this year and during the lifetime of this Government? I appeal to the Minister. Can we set a target for the lifetime of this Government to have 1,000 members in our roads policing unit, bringing us back to where we were in 2009?

The Deputy is right that human behaviour is the biggest cause of fatalities and accidents on our roads. I know he is not suggesting otherwise, but people themselves need to recognise that looking at their phones and consuming alcohol or drugs will expose them not just to risk of fatality and car crash, but also to being apprehended by An Garda Síochána. That will result in increased insurance costs and time off the road and make it very difficult for their lives professionally in the future.

I have spoken to the Commissioner. There is obviously a requirement for gardaí to devote a certain amount of time to roads policing. The figures the Deputy has given indicate that there is a lot of roads policing ongoing, but it is a balancing act as well. There is much other important work the Garda has to do, so I cannot just ask the Commissioner to devote a majority of resources to roads policing. People have a responsibility as well. I will keep a close eye on the matter.