Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

Many women undergoing the test would prefer to be tested by a female. We should have the same balance among the testers as there is among those sitting the test.

The Minister intends to bring the operation of the NCT under this new agency. I welcome that because there is much concern among the public about the standards of the NCT. There is also a lack of accountability because it is privately operated. Some newspaper investigations have uncovered practices that are not acceptable. I am glad that the new agency will take responsibility for that. I hope that there will be greater responsibility and clarity on the pass rates and the various hurdles through which people have to go to get their car passed.

It is all very well to set up a new agency and I welcome that. Unless the Minister provides the resources necessary for that agency to increase significantly the number of driving testers and to put in place acceptable standards for driving licensing, no improvement will be made. The Minister's predecessor made a complete dog's dinner of driver testing. It is far worse than it was when he came to office.

The figures for serious accidents on our roads are worse than they were two years ago. It is not rocket science to draw a relationship between those two facts. The Minister must ensure that this new agency is in a position to put in place a modern driver testing system that is adequately resourced and staffed. This must be done to meet the great demand that is out there, which will continue over the next few years. We need forward planning from someone who can secure the resources from the Minister for Finance to ensure that we have a modern driving tester system. The current situation is inexcusable and it is highly irresponsible of the Minister and his predecessor to have allowed this situation to develop. The Minister must show his mettle to get the resources for the new agency. Unless they are provided, we will be back to square one and there will be no improvement in the existing system.

See this speech in context