Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ryan for tabling this amendment. When the Deputy speaks for the Clancy family he is speaking for a large number of people in this country. When I saw that case reported on the news the night it happened I rang the head of the Road Safety Authority and asked what the situation was and whether legislation should be introduced to remedy the awful problem highlighted by the Clancy family. She agreed that it definitely should be addressed. Strengthening the law with regard to unaccompanied learner permit holders is something I have asked my officials to examine in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, whose advice will have to be sought as to the barriers to introducing such an offence on the registered owner of a vehicle. My officials will also liaise with the Garda as to the enforceability of such a proposal.

It is a serious problem. We do not know the extent of it but the fact that it had to be highlighted by a death and a court case such as this is unacceptable. A learner permit holder who is driving when unaccompanied is not meeting one of the key conditions attached to their permit and therefore is driving unlicensed. This is already an offence which carries three penalty points on payment of a fixed charge notice and five penalty points on conviction in court. Furthermore, the cost of insurance working group, chaired by Deputy Eoghan Murphy and in which the Department is a participant, will introduce measures to deal with unaccompanied driving. I understand that its report will be finalised and presented to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, before the end of the year. That is the insurance aspect. However, I am not satisfied with the safety aspect. I assure the Deputy it is now being addressed urgently. It is a pity it took a court case such as that to address it.