Mayo TD welcomes new legislation to improve rail safety in aftermath of tragedies
A Mayo TD has welcomed the second reading in Dáil Éireann of the Railway Safety Bill 2026.
The legislation contains proposals to enshrine the organisation and main functions of the Railway Accident Investigation Unit, RAIU, in primary legislation.
It also contains amendments to update and modernise the Railway Safety Act 2005 and consequential matters.
Several fatal incidents have occurred on Irish railway lines in 2026.
Mayo Deputy Keira Keogh said she is approaching the matter with particular appreciation of the importance of rail services to regional communities.
She stated: "The rail services that connect towns like Westport, Castlebar, Claremorris, Ballyhaunis and Ballina with the rest of the county are a vital link for our county.
"Workers, students, tourists and families avail of rail transport and for them it is not a luxury; it is an essential part of our transport infrastructure.
"As we encourage greater use of public transport and seek to reduce our emissions, we must maintain confidence in the safety of our railways.
"I cannot speak about railway safety without acknowledging the recent tragedy in Kiltybo near Ballyhaunis in my county where a collision between a train and a car claimed the life of 12-year-old Eoin Doyle who was on his way home from GAA training.
"The loss of such a young life has devastated Ballyhaunis and all the people right across Mayo.
"My thoughts remain with Eoin's parents, sister and wider family, as well as with the whole community in Ballyhaunis, as they continue to come to terms with such a profound loss. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
"Tragedies bring into sharp the focus the critical importance of robust safety procedures, appropriate protections at level crossings and the continuous reviewing of safety practices across our rail network.
"It is a stark reminder of why the highest standards of railway safety must always be maintained. I particularly welcome the provisions in this Bill that reinforce the principle that safety investigations are about establishing what happened, learning from an incident and preventing similar incidents from occurring again.
"Public confidence depends on knowing that when a serious incident occurs, it will be examined thoroughly and independently and that lessons will be learned. This is fundamental for passengers and railway workers and operators alike.
"While I support the objectives of the Bill, legislation alone cannot guarantee railway safety. We must ensure that continued investment in railway infrastructure, signalling systems, track maintenance, technology, staff training and recruitment remain essential.
"Safety standards are strongest when good legislation is matched with adequate resources and investment on the ground.
"From a Mayo perspective, investment in rail remains critically important.
"We must continue to strengthen regional connectivity and ensure that communities in the west receive the same level of ambition for public transport as communities anywhere else in the country.
"Safe, reliable and efficient rail services are essential for balanced regional development. They support tourism and local economies, provide sustainable transport choices and help our towns and communities remain connected.
"The government has rightly emphasised increased public transport usage as part of its climate, economic and regional development objectives, but achieving that requires public confidence.
"Every passenger boarding a train in Westport, Ballina, Castlebar or at any train station or stop across the country must be confident that safety comes first and that we have a system capable of investigating incidents, learning from them and continuously improving our standards," she added.