THE Progressive Democrats' environment spokeswoman, Ms Ma inn Quill, has called on the Minister for the Environment to account for his "failure" to improve road safety, following six road deaths over the weekend.
The six deaths bring to 10 the number of people killed on the roads over the past four days. Gardai have said that greasy roads after a prolonged dry spell may have contributed to some of the accidents.
Most of the fatal accidents took place in the early hours of Saturday morning.
In Charleville, Co Cork, a pillion passenger on a motorcycle was killed when the bike on which he was travelling hit a fence. He was named as Mr Austin Shanahan (18) from Charleville.
In Co Louth, two men were killed at about 3.10am on Saturday when the car in which they were travelling hit a tree. Three other people were injured and were brought to hospital. The dead men were named as Mr Noel Donnelly (17), of Drumcashel, Castlebellingham, Co Louth, and Mr David Flynn (20), of Dunleer, Co Louth.
In Co Waterford, a motorcyclist and a pedestrian were killed shortly after midnight on Saturday in an accident at Melleray Road, Cappoquin.
The motorcyclist was named as Mr Maurice Corcoran (23), from Cappoquin. The pedestrian was named as Ms Elizabeth Allen (21), also of Cappoquin.
In Dublin, a woman was killed early on Saturday as she crossed the road at the Coombe. She was named as Ms Anne Moore (71), from Brabazon Street, Dublin. Another pedestrian was also knocked down in the incident.
Ms Quill said she intended to raise the issue of road safety in the Dail this week.
Mr Howlin had failed to achieve even one improvement in road safety during his two and a half years in office, she said in a statement yesterday.