Michael Fitzmaurice challenges speed-limit cuts, blames poor roads
Michael Fitzmaurice spoke about road safety, criticising recent reductions in speed limits and arguing that underfunded roads and roadside hedges are contributing to accidents. He warned that the policy changes have not improved safety and called for a focus on road maintenance and targeted measures.
Main criticism of speed limit changes
Michael Fitzmaurice argued that lowering speed limits across the board has been counterproductive. He said straight, low-traffic roads feel more restrictive and that blanket reductions have not targeted real danger spots, noting that "you could cycle faster on a road that's dead straight."
Road conditions and funding
He blamed underfunded local authorities for poor road conditions, singling out Galway as badly funded for roads. He said the state of the roads is a major cause of accidents and suggested funding and maintenance should be prioritised.
Roadside hedges and lorry drivers
Fitzmaurice raised safety concerns about roadside hedges, saying lorry drivers routinely clip hedges and that such vegetation reduces a safe verge or cushion, increasing the risk of collisions.
Concerns for older drivers and licensing systems
He criticised computerised systems and the licensing process for older drivers, urging more consideration and practical support for people nervous about retesting. He called for reasonable arrangements for those who have held licences for many years.
Call for targeted safety measures
He argued enforcement and safety efforts should focus on real black spots rather than widespread speed reductions, and repeatedly pressed for more investment in road maintenance as the core response to improving road safety.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
First of all, Minister, and you're from the same county as myself, underfunded councils, you know it yourself. Galway is probably one of the worst counties that's funded in total, but in roads especially. Second thing is roadside hedges. Anyone that drives a lorry will know that the first thing that happens is the merits will clip, because they'll hit two roads, gone along with the hedge cushion, and the third one won't be done. They have to keep out a bit. That's causing more. We decided then we're going to solve all the, and we have to sympathise to anyone that has lost their life, we're going to solve it all. We're going to reduce the speed limit. Go from Haskell to Badlands-Low, you'd cycle faster on a road that's dead straight, and then a by-road, you could go faster on it. It's absolutely nuts what we have done, and then you get to go safe then, and of course they're stuck in a place where they're sure to catch you, if you're doing a lot of mileage generally, they're sure to get you, instead of being in places that's real black spots. You brought down the speed limits. What has happened? Unfortunately, more people have lost their lives. The bottom line, and the other things we have done, all this computer system, especially for old people, old people, and they talk about people and learner permits and all that. Bring them with you. Don't bring them away from you. We are now going to say you have to go back to square one, but if you're an older person and you have it for X amount of years, get them to do their test or do something, sort out something, because some of these people are afraid at the moment to even go in to do the test to actually get you your licence at the beginning, when you have to go in and answer the farty questions. We need to be considered, work with people, but above all, and it's not admitted, is safety on roads. The problem is that roads are in a bad state around the country and it's causing a lot of accidents, but we'll blame everything else to make sure that we want to put more money into it. So, let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
