Government exploring early warning systems to prevent more incidents like M9 crash

The M9 crash which left five teens dead and a family seriously injured. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

The transport minister has said the government is looking at ways to put additional monitoring in place on motorways to give early warnings of incidents such as the M9 crash which left five teens dead and a family seriously injured.

Darragh O’Brien also said he intends to bring forward amendments in the Road Traffic Bill in the coming weeks to protect gardaí from being prosecuted in relation to pursuits.

“We are looking at how we can put additional monitoring in place on our motorways for early warning," Mr O'Brien said. "This type of behaviour is completely and utterly unacceptable.

“It's reprehensible as well, that we have mainly young men, a very small proportion, actually acting in such an irresponsible way, actually putting their lives and other lives at danger."

He said he had met with garda commissioner Justin Kelly a number of months ago, particularly in the area of pursuit and protecting gardaí from prosecution.

“We had about 12 cases of charges being brought, which I think is crazy in itself, to be honest with you, where the gardaí in the performance of his or her duty may actually be charged or indeed prosecuted,” the minister told Newstalk.

“I intend to bring forward amendments in the Road Traffic Bill in this quarter, and certainly have it in by the end of the year to protect gardaí from that type of situation occurring to them, where they would be charged or indeed prosecuted in the pursuit of their duty. That's something that shouldn't happen.

“I've said that publicly before. We are going to address it.” 

The possibility of further strengthening existing legislation was also being examined, he said.

“It's important that we protect our gardaí and that we ensure that they can go about their job and do their job and aren't fearful of prosecution. It's not right that that is the case. It's a very small number of cases, but it's still not right that it's there. And we will address it.” 

Mr O'Brien said early detection and using the system for monitoring motorways would be discussed at a meeting of agencies on Friday.

“Anything that we can do there, that we'll do," he said. "The State can do so much in relation to physical infrastructure, in relation to laws, but I think as well there needs to be a serious national discussion and a discussion in households on this as well, where we have young people, mainly young people, being engaged in this type of behaviour."

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He also said social media companies have a major responsibility but had acted with impunity. He said it is despicable that TikTok refused to come before an Oireachtas Committee.

“There's many different stakeholders in this, we can all do things that will help in this regard. Fundamentally though, it is about individuals' behaviour too.

“There's an education piece there. There's also a justice element to that in relation to youth diversion projects, which are really, really important. But there seems to be a type of machismo come into this whole thing of, speeding cars, putting this up on social media, with soundtracks on it, being shared all the way across like it's a badge of honour."