Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 23 November 2022

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport

Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary)

Photo of Joe CareyJoe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We need to be doing an awful lot more. We are letting people down. The Minister of State is responsible for the Government agency, so we need to hear what she is doing. The situation has worsened. It is just not good enough that young people are waiting for 16 or 21 weeks for a driving test in this day and age.

In her opening statement, the Minister of State referred to programme E, pertaining to maritime transport safety. A new Bill is proposed in this area, which is welcome, but it is based on the Clinch report, which was submitted to the Department in July 2021. A commitment was given by the Minister for Transport to publish that report. It is the third or fourth report on this matter. The funny thing is that none of the other reports was published either. Why is that the case? When will the Clinch report be published? It is important, if the committee is to carry out pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill, that the report be published in an unredacted form, or in its original state, and that we get an opportunity to look at it. It is on the basis of the report’s recommendations that the new Bill is being drafted. It is important that Captain Clinch’s recommendations be implemented. Will the Minister of State ensure the report is published?

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