Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Deputy Leader for outlining the Order of Business. I welcome the Austrian ambassador and her team to Leinster House, and I wish all Austrians living in Ireland and around the world a happy national day. It is important we acknowledge the support of all our European partners, and the benefits of Europe and the EU in being able to work, travel, co-operate and trade freely with other countries, including Austria. It is of huge benefit to Ireland and all the member states.

I briefly touch on the passing of a former Senator, Professor Richard Conroy, who died last week. I extend my sympathy and condolences to his family. He was elected Senator in 1977 and again in 1989. He was the former cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, a distinguished academic and doctor, and former chair of the Tallaght hospital board when it was being built. He was also an accomplished entrepreneur involved in mining zinc, gold, silver and other metals. He was a distinguished person who died last week at the age of 91. At some point in the future, we might have statements on his time as a public servant in these Houses.

We are heading into a bank holiday weekend and there will be a lot of people travelling. I urge everybody to reflect on road safety this weekend, because bank holiday weekends tend to be when accidents happen more often. There are more people travelling, and people travelling on roads they are not used to and not as familiar with. People travel to holiday homes and around the country, all of which is fantastic. The four highest risk factors we learned about at the transport committee, of which I am vice chair, are that accidents generally involve younger people and happen at weekends and night-time, and on smaller rural roads. If any of those criteria apply to you, you are more likely to be in an accident. Everyone needs to take care, but we need to reflect on that in particular if it is night-time or a weekend or if you are a younger driver. We do not want any accidents, fatalities or life-changing injuries this weekend. I appeal to everyone using the roads this weekend to do that.