Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for being here this morning and I thank Mr. Aidan Jordan for his extensive emails to us. I hope we can have the other group representative, Mr. O'Reilly, before the committee regarding his correspondence with the Chairman.

First, how many of the registered ADIs does Unite represent? The RSA was before this committee recently. It has an approved driving instructors forum to represent the interests of all ADIs. I would hope that is a two-way process. Is that process or forum working? Has Unite raised the issues about which Mr. Brophy spoke this morning at that forum? If so, what was the response?

I refer to the number of ADIs going back to 2012. According to my tabulation, and I am open to correction on this, there was an increase of around 900 instructors between 2020 and February of this year, to 1,751. I ask for a clarification on the figures from February 2020 to now.

As regards health and safety, access to bathrooms and the operating of test centres due to Covid-19, has there been engagement with the HSE or the Department of Health? To my eye they would make the decisions on the restriction of those facilities.

I thank the witnesses for being here. They have my support.