Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his engagement with the committee and his availability. It is welcome that a Minister would come in and discuss matters. I support the Minister about the master licence record as mentioned in his opening remarks about the Bill. I have a question about the certificate for medical fitness to drive. I know the Minister cannot make a decision today. Will Government look at the cost to people, especially to a certain age group? Many elderly citizens find it prohibitive to be asked to pay to go to a general practitioner to prove their medical fitness. Will the Minister look at that?

We had a good exchange about speed variances. I raised the speed variances on the M50. As somebody who frequents the Cork-Dublin motorway, I am concerned it is now populated with gardaí. Everywhere you go, there is a Garda speed checkpoint or van on the motorway. In general, by doing that, we are taking gardaí away from other accident blackspots that are far more dangerous than the Cork-Dublin motorway.

I know the Minister smiled and diplomatically kicked for touch regarding aviation, and rightly so, in fairness to him. Our committee has done significant work on antigen testing. I hope the Government will support our committee in that. Stobart Air is leaving us today. I have an appeal for the Minister on behalf of the workers in the aviation sector, especially in Aer Lingus and Ryanair. The Aer Lingus bases in Cork and Shannon should be restored as a matter of urgency, and I ask the Minister and Government to support us with that.

This is good legislation. As the Minister said, it needs to be brought in quickly and I support him in that.