Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That explains where it started. That is fine.

Ms Murdock said there were 873 bus inspections carried out at the roadside and it was discovered that 268 vehicles had major defects and 4.3%, or 37 vehicles, were deemed to be dangerously defective. What happened to the dangerously defective buses? Were they allowed to drive off? Was there some other facility to take them away from the roadside? What actually happened? That needs to be explained.

An article in today's edition of the Irish Independent states,"It is evident from the number of dangerously defective vehicles detected at the annual test that there were some unscrupulous operators who are failing to continually carry out preventative maintenance' the statement reads." When a car, or a bus or whatever goes in for an NCT or other test, the owner corrects as much as he or she things is wrong with the vehicle. It is tested and checked. When it goes through the rigours of a test and something is discovered, the owner goes off and deals with whatever was identified and then comes back. The vehicle is retested and is then legally on the road or has passed the test. Is that how the Ms Murdock understands it?

It is unfair to remark that these vehicles that are recognised as defective at the annual test are operated by unscrupulous operators who are failing to continually carry out preventative maintenance. That is unfair. It raises concerns about the integrity of school bus operators, which is unfair. As already outlined, one does as much as one thinks is necessary, or as a mechanic suggests, but then something is found. One could come out of the test today and something happens in a week's time. One keeps checking one's vehicle but if someone else goes at it, things can be found in a week or a fortnight. Does Ms Murdock agree?