Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

I move amendment No. 47:

In page 12, line 36, after "learner" to insert "and exempted older persons".

I am referring again to older people who deserve some consideration. I ask the Minister to examine the possibility of mandatory retraining or some type of limited test for older people who have been driving for years. Older people do not want to evade their responsibilities but to do the right thing. In years gone by, however, they could have bought a driving licence without sitting a test, but did not do so. The Minister should examine the situation and try to provide some special restricted category for them. I recognise, as the Minister says, that it does not happen elsewhere but we introduced the smoking ban and other countries are following. The system should assist older people who deserve our support. I ask the Minister to examine that matter.

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