The Labour Party have hit out at the slow pace of implementation of the Road Safety Strategy after the total number killed on the roads over the weekend rose to seven following the deaths of four people overnight.
In Galway, Martin Keane (19) of Derrartha, Carraroe and Aine Ní Conghaille (18) of Tra Bhan, Lettermore, were killed in a collision that occurred on Bothar an Cillin, Carraroe at 11.30pm on Sunday night
It is understood that the car the two young people were travelling in crashed into a telegraph pole and the pillar of a gate near a slight bend in the road. The victims were both pronounced dead at the scene and later removed to the mortuary at University College Hospital Galway.
Gardaí in Wicklow are investigating a crash in which a man (19) was killed when the car he was travelling in hit a ditch shortly after midnight at Ballinapark, Ashford, Co Wicklow.
Elsewhere, gardaí are investigating a fatal incident in Co Louth when a man (29) died after his car went through the railings and into the river at the Bridge of Peace, Drogheda, at around 3am today.
The man died after he was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in the town.
Three people were killed in crashes on Saturday.
James Doheny (21) was killed when the car he was driving was involved in a three-car crash near Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, at around 1.45am. Three others were removed to Cashel hospital, where two are reported to be seriously injured.
Two Czech nationals were killed instantly when the car in which they were travelling went out of control on the N5 near Charlestown, Co Mayo early yesterday.
The victims were named as Filip Marecek (34) and Peter Valasek (36). They had been travelling from Ballaghaderreen towards Charlestown.
The names of the two women who were killed in a crash near Athlonce Co Westmeath last Wedensday were also formally released today.
Mihaela Ardeleanu (24) of Arden Road, Tullamore, Co Offaly and Siobhan Drea (20) of Ballykilmurray, Tullamore, were killed when the car they were in crashed at Faldrum at around 6.30 pm.
The latest deaths bring to 27 the number killed on the roads this year. Last year, 399 people died in the Republic, the highest toll since 2001.
Labour transport spokeswoman Roisin Shortall the Government's failure to deliver on the Road Safety Strategy had contributed to the carnage. She said responsibility for the Strategy is spread across four separate Government departments and several agencies but "lacking any sense of co-ordination or leadership".
"As a result, significant parts of the strategy are no nearer implementation than they were when they were announced in 2004," she said.
She issued a list of 14 policy commitments that had not been implemented, including: · No legislation for random breath testing · No expansion of penalty points · No ban on use of mobile phones in cars · Garda Traffic Corp still not fully resourced and trained · No change in licensing regime for learner drivers · No testing of imported vehicles · Measures to address motorcycles
"The Government is not to blame for those deaths, but it is responsible for addressing the causes," she said adding that the Minister for Transport Martin Cullen should be held accountable.