Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I welcome this Bill as another step in a co-ordinated approach for ensuring our roads are safer for drivers, passengers and pedestrians. It addresses two critical issues, namely, the transfer of testing of commercial vehicles to the Road Safety Authority and the transfer of the administration of driving licences from local authorities to the same body. I take this opportunity to welcome the introduction of plastic card licences from next year. However, with more than 2 million ten year licences in existence, they are likely to be replaced only at a rate of some 200,000 per year. Will the Minister of State, in conjunction with the RSA, consider allowing drivers who would like to replace their existing licence to do so at a nominal charge? That would greatly enhance the rate of transfer.

Will the Minister increase the age limit from 70 to 72 years in respect of the requirement to undergo a medical to renew a licence in line with increased life expectancy and retirement ages being provided for in current and future legislation? Seventy years is too young for this provision.

Could we have clarity and receive co-operation on the conversion of driving licences for those who come here from other countries, particularly the United States? It is very frustrating for a person who is fully competent to drive to come from the USA to this country and have to go through the rigmarole of testing and assessments and paying associated fees.

The RSA is proposing that everyone will receive a unique identifier when applying for the theory test and that this identifier will follow each applicant through every stage of the licensing process. This reminds me of the centralised medical card application system. Concerns were raised by Deputies on all sides about the administration of that scheme. I suggest the PPSN be incorporated as a primary recording number. That is what the centralised medical card office now does. The PPSN is recognised as the identifier for citizens in the State and the RSA should take note of this in the theory test application system. It would be worthwhile to put a tracking system in place at the same time.

I am concerned about the RSA's accountability to the Oireachtas and duty to respond to parliamentary questions. A liaison officer for parliamentary business should be appointed to the agency.

There is a perception that commercial and private vehicle tests are often failed on frivolous or cosmetic grounds rather than road safety issues. Most of us know that is not true in the vast majority of cases, but we must convince the public and commercial vehicle operators that the priority is road safety, not cosmetics. We are aware through recent initiatives that road safety statistics have improved dramatically in the last decade. I would like statistics, however, for roadside checks. There is an absolute figure and it should be compared with that in our European neighbours, in conjunction with the number of commercial licences granted.

Those involved in the operation of commercial vehicles, from double decker buses to small commercial vans, are running on tight margins. We must be careful how we add to those working in the road haulage sector. We must have one eye on road safety, while keeping the other on the competitive nature of the economy, recognising that commercial vehicles are the circulatory system of the economy. Commercial vehicles and their operators must comply with numerous obligations and regulations on an annual basis. I hope this issue will be examined to reduce the time, expense and bureaucracy in obtaining HGV and LGV licences. The system is onerous for owners, but if we can achieve better road safety figures and increase efficiency, it will be a welcome step.

There are 148 test centres well spread out across the State. In west Cork it would be helpful to have a maximum travelling distance to a test centre. This would be welcomed by the Irish Road Haulage Association.

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