'This country is going backwards' - Taoiseach expresses concern over road safety trends

An Taoiseach Simon Harris has welcomed the decision of the Garda Commissioner to direct rank-and-file gardai to carry out 30 minutes of Roads Policing duties during every shift they work.

Mr Harris, who was elected as Taoiseach on Tuesday, met with Drew Harris and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee at Government Buildings this Friday.

"We discussed knife crime, we discussed antisocial behaviour, we discussed body cameras, we discussed a range of security matters and we also discussed, very specially, the issue of road safety and road traffic collisions because I am very sad to say, this country is going backwards in relation to the progress that we made," said the Taoiseach this Friday night while attending a Fine Gael event in Co Limerick.

Mr Harris says the current trends and the increase in deaths on Irish roads is a concern and that improving road safety will be one of his priorities as Taoiseach.

"I do welcome the initiative that he (Commissioner Drew Harris) has taken because, I think, what he is trying to do is what everybody needs to do - in all walks of life we need to put a focus on road safety and what he is simply saying (to gardai) is 'as part of your regular duties can you please put that focus on' and 30 minutes might not sound a lot, I get that, but 30 minutes multiplied out by many thousands of gardai is a very significant help," he commented.

Mr Harris said he will meet with representatives of the Road Safety Authority on Monday and that he will personally chair a meeting of the government's road safety ministerial committee in the coming weeks.

In addition to increasing the number of gardai assigned to Roads Policing, the Taoiseach says the potential of using technology more will be examined as will ways to encourage motorists to change their personal behaviour when behind the wheel.