MINISTER FOR Transport Noel Dempsey has no plans to have anybody other than the Garda and, where appropriate, the Health and Safety Authority, investigate road crashes, the Dáil has heard.
Fine Gael transport spokesman Fergus O'Dowd had called for the establishment of an independent body to investigate accidents such as the bus crash on Wellington Quay in Dublin in which five people were killed.
The Louth TD said the Garda had properly investigated both the Wellington Quay bus crash and the accident in Kentstown, Co Meath, in which five students were killed, but the Health and Safety Authority could only investigate the Kentstown crash.
"We need an independent authoritative examination of all accidents where there are fatalities, especially for those involving public transport." It was "unacceptable" that Dublin Bus was refusing to publish the Wellington Quay report while Bus Éireann would publish the Kentstown crash report, he said.
Mr Dempsey said, however, that the Dublin crash was fully investigated by the Garda. "It initiated a very thorough investigation which led to a court case and evidence being produced. CIÉ and Dublin Bus also investigated the matter very thoroughly and, as is normal in any such accident where lives have been lost, any lessons that can be learned are learned and put into practice, which is the case."
Mr O'Dowd questioned how the Minister could know what lessons had been learned as he had not sought a copy of the report, while he himself had been refused a copy for legal reasons. The Minister had a duty of care to publish the Dublin Bus report.
He insisted that "if the Minister does not set up an independent body to investigate such accidents which are unfortunately outside the remit of the Health and Safety Authority then we have no independent way of assessing the important resulting information".
The Minister disagreed, and said: "I would not impugn the Garda or its investigative abilities into road accidents."
Mr O'Dowd insisted that "I have not impugned the Garda", which was a serious allegation.
Mr Dempsey insisted that he had not made any allegation. There had been a full investigation by the Garda, with a court case and prosecution. All the facts were made known. "My department has been assured by Dublin Bus that any issues arising have been dealt with fully regarding the safety of public transport."
