Follow-up debate on road safety
Senator Conway seeks follow-up statements on road safety after the previous debate was curtailed by an overrun Order of Business; a visitor welcome follows.
I also recognise that this month is Dyslexia Awareness Month. Dyslexia is far more widely recognised now than it was but there is a significant amount of work to be done particularly in the area of education.
I thank the Leader for organising statements on road safety yesterday. This is an issue of critical importance. Unfortunately, because yesterday's Order of Business ran over, the time allocated to the debate was curtailed. I request that, perhaps in six months, we would have the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, back for follow-up statements on this issue. A number of very good suggestions, ideas and collaboration proposals emanated from the discussions yesterday. They could be developed upon further. We could afford the Minister of State an opportunity to give an update on some of those.
As I said yesterday, a lot of it is down to personal behaviour. It is a privilege to be able to sit behind the wheel of a car or sit on the saddle of a bike because not everybody can. There are people, such as me, who will never be able to drive and there are other people who will never be able to cycle and do not have that privilege. It is a privilege and that is why privileges should be respected. That is why people should abide by the rules of the road. There are enough circumstances outside of one's control when accidents happen but when it is within the control of people, certain respect should accord and people should simply abide by the rules of the road.
Finally, like everybody else I was shocked and saddened to hear of poor Seamus Carroll's passing. He was a lovely man. I have known him in these Houses for the past decade as an usher. Like all of our ushers he was extremely helpful. He was very courteous and a very nice man. To his wife, Treasa, who also works in the Houses, I extend my sympathy, as everybody else has done. It is a terrible loss and may he rest in peace.
