Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

That is what I mean. There are no consequences. That is the real objection. I do not object to their sitting the test, rather that, by virtue of the certificate we give them, they represent a danger to everyone else.

Experiences such as night-time journeys, emergency braking and so on are not part of the test, yet they are part of everyday driving and should inform both training and testing. The preparation for the test is a vast, uncharted landscape. I know we have all had communications from instructors. However, the truth is that anyone can set up as an instructor at the moment. Bizarrely, one need not even have a full driving licence to set oneself up as a driving instructor. It is mad that someone with a provisional driving licence, who may have failed the test several times, can do that.

At the behest of the Department some years ago, a voluntary register of driving instructors was set up by the industry which required a minimum level and standard of performance. The industry has itself gone to considerable trouble and expense to clean up its act. Will the Minister ensure that the authority capitalises on what work has been done by the existing instructors who set up that register in addition to the extra standards that the authority may require to be observed by driving instructors? Obviously, it is not comprehensive but it is a beginning and we must recognise the efforts of those driving instructors who take an interest in the industry and are in it for the long haul rather than the fly-by-night operators.

I want to refer to the danger of motorcycles, about which I feel strongly. Every mother feels strongly about the number of deaths from motorcycle accidents, and I am sure we all think, "There, but for the grace of God, go I". The number of deaths from motorcycle accidents is unacceptable. The road safety strategy up to 2004 promised to introduce mandatory training for motorcyclists prior to their being allowed on the road, but that did not happen. I understand it is in the new strategy, but mandatory training is still not in place. I stress the importance of that training. I have no doubt that the number of deaths from motorcycle accidents is largely due to poor training or, in many cases, no training, which is in turn compounded by poor testing. The problem of poor training and poor testing must be tackled.

Many motorcyclists are young drivers. They regard a motorcycle as a cheap alternative to a car. Young people are attracted to speed and the ease of transport a motorcycle appears to offer. That is the reason the testing and training must be rigorous. This problem must be tackled. It will require additional resources. The testing alone — I am sure the Minister is familiar with the problem — involves a different set of skills from those needed for car driving and testing, but there is nothing in the budget to indicate that something will be done immediately in this area. There is no escaping the urgency of this matter and the unacceptable number of deaths.

Every weekend we hear of another young lad killed in a motorcycle accident. The figures up to last weekend indicate that 69 people were killed on our roads this year, 32 of whom were car drivers and ten motorcyclists. In two months, ten motorcyclists were killed. This appears to be an uninsurable activity, which is unfortunate because the many enthusiasts involved in motorcycling are extremely good drivers who do special training, abroad in many cases. This activity attracts people who have an interest in the sport and who are very skilful drivers, but they are being penalised because there is not a proper system in place to ensure the necessary skills are made available to young people and that they are tested thoroughly. We must stop reckless young men driving on our roads who are a danger to themselves and others because of a failure to inculcate in them the seriousness of what they are doing when they take a motorcycle on to the road.

I would like to think this measure will make a difference to road safety but the proposal is so vague and open to interpretation and so market-oriented that it is impossible for me to predict how this authority will operate or what it will try to achieve. I support market freedom in all circumstances but when it comes to road safety and enforcing the licensing system, an area inextricably linked with the justice system, it is not an area for unbridled commercialism of the kind that appears to be permitted in the Bill.

It would be wrong if the testing system structures were to be administered or arranged in such a way as to be influenced by revenue raising circumstances. We discussed this issue previously in the context of speed cameras but for the system to have credibility and the confidence of the public, it must be transparent and have nothing to do with potential profit for an outside body. That is very important. I do not know if that is what is envisaged but it is permitted under the Bill. Revenue raising considerations should not supersede the purpose of the legislation.

Whether the legislation will work remains to be seen but what is certain is that another quango is being set up, apparently at arm's length from the Minister and, therefore, from the Dáil. This body will not be answerable to the Dáil through the Minister. Questions are tabled to the Minister every day about the driver testing system and he answers those questions. Will the Minister answer such questions in future or will we be told they are matters for the new body which will contact us in the fullness of time? That would not be acceptable. The fact that so many questions are tabled is a reflection of the inadequacy of the system but at least the Minister of the day is accountable for this body and must explain why the system does not work and respond to all queries. That accountability cannot be taken away. Too much accountability to this House has been given away. I support this legislation but I ask the Minister to give a guarantee that he will remain accountable to the Dáil for the activities of this new body.

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