I propose to take Questions Nos. 654 and 663 together.
There is general agreement that there has long been a need to consolidate Ireland’s Road Traffic Acts, which involve multiple pieces of legislation going back to 1961. In the Programme for Government, we have committed to progressing the work which was begun in the latter stages of the previous Government, when a dedicated team was set up to focus on this project.
The goal is to have a single, clearly organised, Consolidated Road Traffic Act, which will be much easier to navigate. It is also intended that in future any changes will be by amendment to this new Act rather than by putting stand-alone provisions in new Acts. In this way, there will in future be only one Road Traffic Act ‘as amended’, and we will not see a recreation of the kind of complexity which has grown up over the past 65 years.
The Department has closely examined the legal texts involved and the issues to be addressed as part of the consolidation process. This is a large and complex task. I would also like to acknowledge in particular the great assistance provided by the Law Reform Commission, whose observations and expertise on the ongoing work have been invaluable.
As I informed the Deputy in late July last, a pathway to realising the consolidation of road traffic law has been identified and at that time it was my intention to seek Government approval for the recommended approach. Consequently, I had hoped to bring the proposed approach to Government following the summer recess. However, further detailed considerations has meant that I now intend to bring my proposal forward in this quarter.
I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to progressing this project as quickly as possible; however, as I previously pointed out, legal issues may arise as the project progresses, and how many and how complex these legal issues may be to resolve will be the key factor impacting on the timeline for the delivery of a Consolidated Road Traffic Act.
