In the fourth of our series on key influencers on Irish roads and traffic policy, Barry McCall profiles Denis Naughton, Fine Gael's transport spokesperson
A rural TD, representing Longford-Roscommon, he is regarded as having got on top of the transport brief very quickly and impressed many with the degree of empathy he has for the Dubliners and their transport problems.
First elected to the Dáil in 1997 Denis Naughten was appointed Fine Gael spokesperson on Transport, June 2002. A member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, he has been front bench spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
A qualified microbiologist he is now a full time public representative. He is strongly favours public transport as the key to our transport problems. In line with his party's policy he believes that the short-term solution to Dublin's problems lies in the greater use of buses as they offer the level of flexibility and can carry the number of passengers needed to make a real difference to congestion.
He also backs increased investment in suburban rail including further capacity increases for the DART and additional services in other areas on existing track.
He also supports the establishment of a separate Garda Traffic Corps, the elimination of toll booths through the introduction of a national electronic tolling system, and heavy investment in computerised traffic management systems.