I ask for a debate on road safety. As of yesterday, four more people died in the month of January than the previous January and, unfortunately, two more people died last night in a very sad crash. My condolences go to their families and all friends in County Mayo. That is six more people who died in this calendar year than the previous calendar year or 20 people as opposed to 14 people. One person is too many but 20 is certainly too many.

Yesterday, representatives of the Road Safety Authority appeared before the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications, mainly about the national car test and delays in the provision of driving tests, but I also asked them about road safety figures. A staggering statistic given, which the chief executive said staggered him when he discovered it, was that 40% of driver fatalities were people who had not been wearing their seatbelts, which is surprising in this day and age. The statistic surprised me and the chief executive, who is a man who works on road safety all day, every day. A total of 40% of driver fatalities involved people who had not been wearing their seatbelts. It is so annoying to get into a car and not put on a seatbelt because the car will make a pinging noise and most cars have had that facility for a very long time. We need a renewed effort when it comes to road safety. One accident ruins families and a fatality more so. We need an emphasis on drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and everybody who uses roads to improve road safety and the road environment. We can never be complacent about road safety. The number of fatalities has greatly reduced and is much better than it used to be. We have more cars on our roads and more people in this country. We need a debate on road safety and what we can all do, as users of the road space, to help roads be safer for everybody's benefit.

I thank colleagues for all of the topics they have raised this morning.

Senator Horkan is right. I will arrange and request a debate because it very much does feel, not just this year but in recent years, that we are going backwards from some of the huge successes we have had in the reduction of the number of fatalities over the years. We all know the good work the Road Safety Authority does, particularly in the promotion of road safety. It is very sad to see the number of people who have lost their lives increasing. I send my condolences to the families and friends of the two young men who lost their lives in County Mayo last night. I will ask the office to arrange the debate as quickly I can.

I am not sure what Senator Craughwell is asking of me other than what he has raised this morning certainly puts things in stark contrast in terms of priorities. I suggest that we seek a debate on the value for money aspect of the contract. We have had that before but we are obviously not done with it yet. I will arrange the debate.

I am sorry to say to Senators Craughwell and Boyhan that I cannot accept their amendment. I am instructed that I have to push on today. For the information of the House, No. 2 was debated on two separate occasions at the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight. I acknowledge the request made and apologise that I cannot accept the amendment.

Senator Dolan spoke about the appointment of biodiversity officers in local authorities. It is welcome to see that announcement. It is surprising it has not happened before, but it does shine a light on the individuals in all local authorities who are doing those biodiversity roles as leadership roles because we can cite many projects, as the Senator did, in all counties where local authorities are championing projects to make sure we are cognisant of the environment in which we live and, more importantly, sympathetic to it.

Senator McGreehan asked for a debate on the guidance that was announced this morning by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, for inclusive engagement with communities. I will request the debate.

I thank Senator Flynn for her impassioned speech and acknowledgement that there are far more of us who will stand against racism in this country and who are willing to accept and welcome refugees who flee persecution of many kinds. That is notwithstanding that there are some legitimate concerns that have been raised that need to be addressed by this Government, particularly by our new Minister with responsibility for integration. The lack of communication with communities is a real problem. It allows fear to be stoked up by genuine people who, if they are addressed in a proper and timely manner, would have their fears completely addressed and assuaged.

Senator Currie spoke lovingly about her childminder, Bridget. I think we all have similar memories of aunties or family friends who minded us as kids. They have a special place in all of our hearts. It is very welcome that the Minister has included childminders in the State supports for families who very willingly use childminders.

The Senator also spoke about Michael Gallagher. Our minds are with all of the victims of the Omagh bombing. I wholeheartedly agree with her that an investigation must be done not just by the UK Government but also by the Irish Government to give people answers.

On Senator Gavan's issue, the last time he raised it I told him I was not fully briefed. I have read a bit more about it since and it is absolutely outrageous. Apart from the appalling treatment of the man and the impact on his family and on the people who support him, what is really outrageous is that the world society expects more from modern democracies. We expect them to act with decency and integrity. While we raise many issues about Russia and China, we probably have a view that those countries are not quite as democratic as we are. Therefore, it is not that the infringements from a human rights perspective are not as outrageous but that we do not expect them to act in the same way as we expect modern democracies to act. One of the most modern democracies we all know, and in many cases it is cited as being an example of best behaviour, is the United States. Certainly, the US has not acted in a gracious way in this instance. In fact, it has been appalling. What is appalling is that other modern democracies are going along with the - charade is not a strong enough word - what I assume are the wishes or the instructions that have been handed down. I do not believe my calling for Julian Assange's freedom here today is going to make any difference, but we should have a debate not just on him but on human rights abuses and on any other issues people may wish to raise.