Justice Minister must ensure speed cameras are in operation this weekend

Speaking ahead of the planned 24-hour strike action by staff operating speed camera vans tomorrow morning, Labour Party leader, Brendan Howlin TD has said the Minister for Justice is responsible for dealing with the issue and ensuring that the deterrent of speed cameras is in place this weekend.

Deputy Howlin commented:

“We know that excessive speed is involved in many cases of road traffic death or injury. While some people might joke about the speed cameras being out of operation, the sad truth is that over a thousand people have died on our roads in the last six years, and tens of thousands have been injured. 149 people died last year.

“Road deaths have decreased due to safety measures being put into place, including speed cameras and enforcement of penalties. It is the duty of the Minister for Justice to ensure that speed cameras are in operation this weekend.

“The problem in this strike is that the employer, GoSafe, is refusing to negotiate with the trade union SIPTU about issues such as low wage staff working 11 hours with no toilet facilities and having nowhere to eat their lunch other than in a cramped van or on the side of the road. Charlie Flanagan is washing his hands of the matter, by claiming that GoSafe is a private company. The government should never give contracts to companies that ignore the industrial relations bodies of the state, as GoSafe has done by ignoring a Labour Court ruling that SIPTU is the only valid negotiator on behalf of these workers.

“It is not good enough for Minister Flanagan to claim it is a private dispute. His Department and the Gardaí are both signatories to this contract, and he should insist that the company convenes talks with SIPTU to avoid this strike and to avoid any heightened risk to road users this weekend.”