Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the previous point, I will just say that the statutory instrument has actually been made by the Irish Aviation Authority around the regulatory process.

On the other point, there is a sound evidence base in ensuring any learner driver has a qualified driver with him or her. My priority is to address the long waiting times we have seen. We are finalising a business case within the Department - and I hope to be able to make an announcement on that very shortly - on increasing capacity within our driver testing system. There is a young demographic that wants to drive and there has been a massively increased demand, so the additional testers who were recruited last year have not reduced the backlog. The additional testers have been distributed across the 18 centres across the country where there are the highest levels of demand. However, on the broader point, I would not like to compromise the road safety principles, because the solution sits with better capacity. My objective will be to conclude the business case as quickly as possible, to commence the recruitment of additional testers and to try to address the unacceptable times that are facing many people, including the learner drivers who have waited many years to get a test.