I thank the Minister of State for facilitating the statements here today in relation to road safety and the use of cameras to deter and detect traffic offences. The number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads is far too high. I am sure the major progress we made as a country over recent decades to reduce the carnage on our roads has been mentioned many times today already. Unfortunately, we have seen a reversal of that in recent years, with 190 deaths in 2025. As a Government we need to work with all stakeholders, including the Garda, the Road Safety Authority and local authorities, to reduce the injuries and deaths on our roads in every way possible. I want to focus on pedestrian safety, which is very important. In total, 41 pedestrians lost their lives on Irish roads last year. Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable road users. I want to focus on the use of cameras at signalised junctions and pedestrian crossings to address the breaking of red lights, which is a very serious offence that can have catastrophic consequences for pedestrians. The benefits of introducing further the roll-out of cameras to reduce the incidence of this offence is very important. I ask the Minister of State to move to introduce cameras as quickly as possible at signalised junctions and pedestrian crossings to act as a deterrent and detect offences of red-light breaking when they take place at crossings. In addition, I ask that we consider our approach in terms of the consistency of pedestrian crossings because we have a myriad of different types of pedestrian crossings. We have controlled crossings, uncontrolled crossings, signalised crossings and zebra crossings. There is a wide range of them. It is important we develop a degree of consistency around our pedestrian crossings and that in itself will help with road safety and pedestrian safety. The final point I wish to make is the importance of having raised tables at pedestrian crossings to deter offences and slow down vehicles. This is critically important. It is an essential safety element. In terms of the core issue of cameras, it is a modern technology we need to be using to greater effect to reduce deaths and injuries on our roads, particularly in the interest of pedestrian safety. That is one of the key tools we can use. We have not used it yet as a country. Other countries are using it. We need to step up to the plate to do that.

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