Minister of State with Responsibility for Road Safety Seán Canney has said "no stone will be left unturned" in terms of legislation in a bid to tackle road deaths.
It comes as three men, two aged in their 30s and one in his 80s, died yesterday in road crashes in counties Kerry, Longford and Antrim.
Last year marked the deadliest year on Irish roads in 12 years, with 190 lives lost, compared to 171 road deaths in 2024.
The number of cyclists killed in 2025 was the highest since 2017, while the number of motorcyclist deaths was the highest since 2007.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, Minister Canney said any life lost is "one too many".
"Again this weekend we hear of a fatality in Longford and a fatality down in Kerry. We see what's happening and in light of the road conditions we have, I'd plead with everybody to drive safely on the roads," he said.
The minister said the number of road fatalities is rising "for a number of reasons", including that there are more cars on the roads.
And he quoted recent National Car Test (NCT) figures that said 133,000 cars were found not to be roadworthy when tested.
"Where do they go when they leave the test centres? Do they go back out on the roads, where do they go, what efforts are made to impound them and take them off the roads?" he asked, adding that this was "not at all" acceptable.
Minister Canney said it is important to work with gardaí to ensure there is sufficient enforcement and a proper system for testing and education.
He said he has made arrangements to meet the Road Safety Authority (RSA) the week after next, adding that he has met the organisation "a number of times" since taking office.
Read more: 2025 'a devastating' year on Irish roads as 190 people killed
In relation to a proposal for a graduated points system that was shelved by previous ministers due to being too complicated to implement, he said they will be looking at what can be done that is not complicated.
"I want to say, very simply, that people who are out on the roads breaking the law, there is a consequence. The bigger the offence, the more severe the punishment will be. It is important to get that message out there," he said.
"We need to make sure that the legislation is there, that there is enforcement of the legislation, and that people understand what the rules are."
The minister said "no stone will be left unturned" in terms of legislation and that he has had, and will continue to have, discussions with Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan.
He said they will ensure that whatever legislation is brought in will see those caught breaking the law and causing serious and fatal accidents "treated correctly".
"When you talk to road victims' representatives, one of the biggest sticking points that they have, apart from the huge loss they have, is that they feel maybe the legislation and legal system has let them down and let their family and loved ones down," he said.
"That's why I am engaging with all of these people, to ensure that whatever new legislation we bring in will be effective."
