Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

No issue has been raised as often during Question Time and Adjournment Debates as the length of time young drivers must wait to sit the driving test and the number of people consequently driving with only a provisional licence. For the Taoiseach to suggest it was an accident or that, somehow, 430,000 could be overlooked is proof the Government is seriously out of touch.

To return to the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, if he was a driver rather than a Minister, he would be on his third provisional licence at this stage, with no prospect of passing the test.

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