Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)

There is no doubt that they will spot the Minister of State, Deputy Ring's talents one of these days, but he is still the champion heckler in this House. As long as he can retain that title, no doubt that will be enough for him.

I wish to ask the Minister one or two questions about driver testing. This issue has disturbed me all my life which is getting more disturbing as I get older. Why do drivers who passed their test perhaps 40 or 50 years ago when they were 17 years not have to refamiliarise themselves with the rules of the road? It is a most extraordinary anomaly and injustice that people can go from the age of 17 years perhaps to the age of 97 - throughout that period the rules of the road, signposts and everything else change - without in any way being expected to adapt to the rules of the road. In other words, a person can obtain his or her driving licence at 17 years, drive until he or she drops or is put off the road for various reasons and does not have to adapt as the rules and signposts change. Like many others in this House, I do not recognise the changes made because we are not subject to refamiliarisation or retesting. Over a period people are not aware of rule changes or changes to signposts or road markings. There must be a case for saying that after every ten, 15 or 20 years people should be retested in order to ensure they are not a danger on the road through ignorance of the changes made. I do not know whether it should be an oral test or a driving test, but there is a lacuna in the regulations that makes people less safe as they get older, not because of age but because of the fact that they do not have to be retested.

I must confess to being guilty of the above. My wife who is not very happy to drive with me because of my lack of familiarity with some of the modern rules arranged some roundabout lessons for me for my birthday recently.

See this speech in context