Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I am honoured to say a few words on this Bill. I have felt for some years that the poor unfortunate motorist is beset by problems such as bad roads, Government, and every single obstacle that one could imagine. This is a far cry from 1977, when the incoming Fianna Fáil Party Government was elected with the largest majority in the history of the State on the basis that it would abolish car tax. We were to have free roads with no car tax and would live as if tomorrow would never come. After a year or two, however, the country went broke and was sunk in debt to the extent that it has taken almost the entire intervening period to extricate ourselves from it.

That was a different era when what was important was getting the election in the bag. The electorate was bought by dangling promises, but once it was in, the door was slammed shut. Times have changed and more mature visions have taken over the Government. The motorist is now seen as somebody who can be regularly squeezed for more revenue to enable the Government to fulfil its promises at the next election, having failed to fulfil its promises at the previous election. The theory is that if it hammers the motorist hard enough, it will have enough money to buy the next election. As for the election after that, the Government hopes that with the grace of God and a few other interventions, people may not take much notice and will allow it to slip back into power again.

Total revenue from motorists currently stands at €4 billion per annum. For all the recognition motorists receive, they now appear to be the equivalent of public enemy No. 1. While I appreciate the need for road safety and compliance with regulations, regardless of where motorists drive, somebody is watching, checking, examining and challenging them.

In the past two budgets, the Minister for Finance decided to take a closer look at motorists. His policy appears to have been to ask who they think they are driving around the countryside in their cars and how he can take more from them. This would not be so bad if we had roads of a similar quality to those in other European countries, including some of the former communist countries, or if one could drive on our roads without fear of losing half one's car in a pothole. We have, however, some of the worst roads in the world and there is no point in the Government priding itself in the work it has done in recent years.

We also have the smallest number of motorways in Europe. Some people may argue that this is beneficial, but if we want to progress and move with the times, we need to examine modes of transport. In the absence of an alternative to the car, we must assume motor vehicles are likely to be a mode of transport for a considerable period and the motorist is here to stay.

It is odd that in most other countries efforts are made to ensure motorists can travel from A to B as quickly as possible, roads are smooth and safe and vehicles are safe, whereas motorists here face an obstacle course. The first hurdle is the driving test. Motorists are lucky to receive an appointment for a driving test within a year or 18 months of joining the waiting list. In some areas, including my local area, failure rates are 50%, which means the unfortunate motorist who fails must wait another year or 18 months before going through the same procedure, again on the basis of a 50-50 chance of being successful. The system is something of a lottery and the unreasonable 50% failure rate raises only two possibilities, either the instruction or the test is flawed.

If the poor, unfortunate motorist passes the test and survives the potholes and the Minister's annual motor tax and VAT increases, he or she has the pleasure of being involved in traffic jams. Every local parish pump village can boast of its own traffic jam as a result of lack of vision and forethought in designing our roads, which one would have expected to be a priority. Towns and villages with populations of 200 or 300 have traffic jams four times a day, during the morning and evening rush hours and as children are brought to and from school. Motorists in ordinary country villages have all the benefits of motoring, including traffic jams on their doorstep, for which they contribute to the sum of €4 billion to which I referred.

Motorists are blamed for pollution, travelling on the roads and being alive, while the €4 billion they contribute to the Exchequer each year appears to go unnoticed. This revenue appears to be taken for granted, as if it was a State's right to insist that people hand over such a sum a money on an annual basis in order that it can do with it as it likes. No recognition is given to the fact that the unfortunate, hard-pressed motorist must meet this bill every year.

The Minister has made considerable capital out of the non-national roads allocation for this year. This may be wonderful, but it is not a minute before time. Even if the amount were doubled, it would not be noticed. In view of the necessity to have roads in good condition around election time in June, the Government decided to address the issue.

Recently, I punctured two tyres in two potholes. This was the first time this happened since I started driving in about 1962 — perhaps I can no longer drive as well as I could. The Minister of State may have picked up the wrong folder but he need not worry.

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