Guidelines for the Application of Special Speed Limits were issued by Mr. Martin Cullen, T.D., Minister for Transport to all local authorities on 18 April 2005 pursuant to section 9(9) of the Road Traffic Act 2004 relating to the making of special speed limit bye-laws.  Section 9(9) imposes a general requirement on county and city councils that, in making bye-laws they should have regard to the guidelines issued by the Minister.  The deployment of the speed limit of 120 km/h as a special speed limit on dual-carriageways on national roads or the special speed limit of 30 km/h must be in accordance with the relevant provisions in guidelines issued by the Minister.