I, too, pay tribute to my colleague and, more important, my friend, Senator Denis Landy, who has announced today his unexpected retirement from this House. Denis has made a huge contribution to local and national politics and to Labour Party politics in Tipperary, across Munster and across Ireland over almost 30 years in elected office of one description or another. As Senator Gavan said, Denis was a very proud socialist. His socialism was of a practical variety. He did what he said. He believed in what he was doing and he believed what he was doing was right. He was and is a solid trade unionist and somebody with an enormous track record of delivery in his community and across the country. I do not believe there is a former or current county councillor in this country who does not know Denis Landy personally. Denis has always provided any excellent service to city and county councils across this country. Indeed, he was a very proud town councillor representing Carrick-on-Suir for many years. He was a very proud advocate of town councils and what they can achieve. He would be very amused by the remarks of Senator Michael McDowell. Senator McDowell referred to himself and to Denis as radicals in the same breath. It may be fair to say they are on different ends of the political spectrum, but radicals nonetheless. I do accept that Senator McDowell is, indeed, a radical, but one with whom I may not always agree.

I do agree, however, with Senator McDowell's reference to what I would describe as the misuse of State funds to promote political ends.

I almost crashed my socialist-issue Skoda when I heard those advertisements which give the impression that the State is awarding some kind of gift to the self-employed in the form of the benefits they would receive and to which they are entitled through the payment of a PRSI stamp. It is not radical for self-employed people to be provided with these benefits. It is a welcome and necessary step that I welcome.

It would be remiss of me not to reflect on the resignation of the Tánaiste. I take no satisfaction whatsoever in the decision the Tánaiste had made and I mean that sincerely. I served with Deputy Fitzgerald at Cabinet level and we all know that she has many fine qualities. We and the entire country knew that by 7 p.m. last night, only one option was available to the Tánaiste but unfortunately it took some time for the Tánaiste and Taoiseach to accept the inevitability of what was happening. My colleague, Senator Bacik, made the point articulately earlier that we need not have been in the middle of a political crisis over the past few days, had the answers to the questions tabled by my colleague, Deputy Kelly, in the normal course of parliamentary accountability, transparency and democracy, been addressed. Quite the opposite happened. Those questions were thwarted, he was denied the truth and he continues to be denied the truth. Answers were delayed and obfuscation was the order of the day. When the Minister for Justice and Equality addresses the Dáil later, which I am told he intends to do, the first thing he should do is apologise directly to my colleague, Deputy Kelly.

I too would like to be associated with the remarks in respect of Denis Landy. I wish him good health and happiness to himself and his family, whatever he chooses to do from here on.

I raise the issue of road safety. In 2016, 188 people lost their lives on Irish roads. We can all imagine the pain and suffering those families are going through. One interesting statistic is that for every road death, eight people are left with serious, life-changing injuries. Another statistic worth noting is that in 2015, 166 people lost their lives and, of that figure, 45 were between the age of 16 and 25, and 130 were male. With that in mind, I compliment the gardaí in the Cavan-Monaghan division on an initiative undertaken by Sergeant Tony Campbell who, for the third or fourth year running, has organised an event for all transition year students in County Monaghan. The same project is also being rolled out in County Cavan. I attended the event yesterday and more than 400 transition year students were present. Some had already commenced driving and some were about to start. It is basically a road safety roadshow and an appeal to young drivers to slow down and be conscious of the rules of the road. The initiative involved young people being presented with the reality of what happens from the moment a crash occurs until the road is cleared. It was attended by the local safety officer of Monaghan County Council, local gardaí, a paramedic, a consultant from the emergency department in Cavan General Hospital, an undertaker, a coroner and a mother who lost her child and who gave testimony. It was a striking presentation and was very worthwhile. From speaking to some of the students, it left a lasting impression.

I bring this up today because I ask the Leader to mention this project to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. It is a template that could be rolled out throughout the country and which would be beneficial to all young people who have just commenced driving or are about to commence driving.

I too wish to be associated with the comments of goodwill expressed to Denis Landy on the occasion of his retirement from Seanad Éireann.

Denis was a gentleman and an excellent contributor across a wide range of topics over his two terms in the Seanad. I wish him and his family well. It was a big decision for him to make and no doubt he will leave, through his contributions, a lasting imprint in the House for years to come.

My colleague, Senator McDowell, mentioned the Government information unit that is based in the Department of An Taoiseach. The €5 million spending there is additional to the €170 million already spent by the Government and State agencies in promoting Government services. That is €175 million being spent this year on the promotion of Government services. There are serious questions about the public good and where that crosses over into political promotion, and some recent communications have been in the realm of the latter. That is wrong and something that should be corrected. This is happening at a time when answers to parliamentary questions in the other House have not been forthcoming and the information that has been sought and which should have been provided has been withheld. We are spending all this money on promoting information to the public, but a Department at the heart of a scandal has been withholding relevant, factual information from a Member of the other House and his fellow Deputies. It is scandalous. We have to get real and I hope that the Government will take this as a rude awakening to get its act in order because what has happened in recent weeks cannot be allowed to happen again.