Speed limits on Irish motorways should be increased and those on many secondary roads should be decreased, according to a review group set up by the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan.
The group, which is expected to furnish its report to the Minister shortly, will recommend that speed limits on motorways, which can be up to 70 m.p.h. at present, be increased to 75 m.p.h.
Part of the review group's work, as well as reviewing speed limits across the State, is to devise a way to change all speed limit signs to kilometres per hour.
A member of the group, Mr Conor Faughnan of the AA, said the recommendations were aimed at ensuring there were "rational speed limits" on all roads.
This, he said, would encourage motorists to take them more seriously.
He said that at present there were stretches of motorway with 30 m.p.h. speed limits and "country boreens" with speed limits of 60 m.p.h. which did not make sense. "We hope this will bring an end to illogical speed limits," he said.
Furthermore, he said pushing up speed limits on motorways would bring Ireland into line with the rest of Europe.
He added that there was nothing controversial about the move.
"The results of this group's work will certainly make Irish roads safer," he claimed.
Membership of the review group includes representatives of the Department of Transport, the Garda, road engineers and the National Safety Council.