Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

As I have only three minutes left to contribute to this debate, I will not have an opportunity to read the remainder of the speech I commenced on 14 October last, a copy of which I have again circulated to Deputies. The remainder of my speech deals largely with a summary of sections 10 to 35 of the Bill. I see the establishment of the Driver Testing and Standards Authority as a crucial step in improving the delivery of the driver testing service in the face of a continuing and unprecedented high level of demand for the service.

The authority will be established outside normal Civil Service structures and should be in a position to deliver a more focused and flexible service that will be able to respond more readily to customer needs and future demand. In the light of the authority's particular duty to raise driving standards, I envisage such a body having the necessary flexibility to take an innovative approach to driving standards that will have long-term benefits for road safety in future. Such benefits will not be as immediate as those resulting from the targeting of the offences of speeding, seat belt wearing and drink driving but it is important that we foster the development of driving standards to underpin the overall strategy for road safety.

The establishment of a separate public sector body to deliver the driver testing service and take responsibility for other functions relating to the testing and control of drivers, driving instructors and vehicles that would be more appropriate to an executive agency than to a Department is also an opportunity for other functions relating to road safety in general to be assigned to the authority. Those that may be assigned to it will ensure that the authority will play an important part in improving road safety in general. In this context I am considering what additional functions might be assigned to the authority in the long term to enable it to fulfil its role more effectively. As part of this process, I propose to bring forward appropriate amendments on Committee Stage.

The process of recruiting a chief executive officer for the DTSA is at an advanced stage and I expect the post to be filled at an early date. It will be based in Ballina and will be at a level equivalent to the assistant secretary grade in the Civil Service. I commend the Bill to the House.

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