Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if, in view of the recent scandal regarding a culture of bribing at some National Car Test garages, if he will be conducting a full scale investigation into these practices across the State. [13676/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority has statutory responsibility for the delivery of the national car test. The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements. The testing function has been carried out since January 2010 by Applus, a global private company in compliance testing, under a contractual arrangement with the RSA.

Responsibility for the operation and delivery of the national car test service lies solely with Applus. The RSA exercises a supervisory role to ensure the service is provided in line with the conditions of the contract. In order to assist the RSA in carrying out this supervisory role, the authority has appointed a contractor to carry out certain supervisory services on its behalf. These relate to monitoring the achievement of the performance and acceptable standards by Applus, and reporting regularly to the RSA. The service is currently provided by a consortium made up of PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Automobile Association. The RSA continuously monitors the performance of Applus and has regular meetings with it to ensure compliance with contract requirements.

The RSA has met with Applus and the Garda Síochána to deal with the issues and corrupt activities highlighted by the recent "Prime Time" programme and to identify the appropriate action to be taken. I have requested the RSA to keep me fully informed of any developments on this matter. I saw the "Prime Time" programme and was shocked by what I saw. The first thing I did the next day was to contact the RSA to seek a report and to engage in discussions with it on the matter. Seven vehicle inspectors who were identified as a result of the programme have been suspended and three of those seven have now been dismissed. Action is being taken in that regard.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister has seen the "Prime Time" programme. We were all taken aback by it and the allegations of abuse that were made about one of the main test centres, including bribery and corruption. Cars were being passed by the centre that were not fit for the road, which is scandalous. The Minister indicated that there has been a number of suspensions and people were dismissed. I am pleased that the authorities acted quickly as a result of the "Prime Time" programme.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Does the Deputy have a question?

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I will get there.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are running out of time.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Let us contrast that with the way people involved in white collar crime, whether in banks or otherwise and those who have run off with millions and billions of euro, were dealt with compared to the speed with which those involved in wrongdoing in the NCT centres were sanctioned. It sends a terrible message to the public. I commend the speed with which the NCT issue was addressed. It is scandalous that such activity should happen in national car test centres because it is a crucial factor in road safety. I accept the Road Safety Authority examines the contracts. Will the Minister indicate whether we need legislation to deal with the matter?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I remind Deputies that one minute is allowed for a supplementary question and one minute for a reply from the Minister.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I am aware of that.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I do not see a benefit in introducing additional legislation. What we need to do is to enforce the legislation we have in this country to a greater extent. That is relevant to the Deputy's other point about white collar crime. I am as frustrated as he is with the slow progress that has been achieved to date in bringing prosecutions in the banking area. I am confident they will be brought in due course. We will allow the DPP to construct the case that is necessary.

From the information I have received, the contractor - Applus, has asked RTE for access to the information collected in the making of the "Prime Time" programme. To date, RTE has not made the information available because it says it does not come within the Freedom of Information Act. RTE has a responsibility to make the information available either to Applus or the RSA so that we have the information it has and can act accordingly.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister referred to a consortium composed of PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Automobile Association which carries out a consistency audit on equipment in the centres operated by Applus. A much greater level of information seems to be coming from motorists who believe that it is possible to pass a test in one location and not in another, not necessarily through any corrupt practice but through a lack of consistency or uniformity in the equipment that is provided because it is not maintained to an appropriate standard. It might be helpful if the Minister were to publish the report carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Automobile Association, which I believe has been provided to the RSA. Will the Minister indicate whether it might be possible to publish the report?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The report has not been submitted to me yet. Once it is, I will consider it and if there is no impediment to publishing it I would be happy to do so at that stage.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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A small number of people have been identified and appropriate action has been taken. Does the Minister accept there has been a systems failure? It is one thing to ask RTE to provide the information but the information provided to it was probably on the basis that individuals would not be identified because they were saying it was not just due to individuals but that there was a systems failure.

The Minister with responsibility for public expenditure and reform, Deputy Howlin, spoke in the House last night about the need to have protection for people who provide information. He outlined how he had found himself before the courts on the matter when information was provided to him in good faith. That information was provided to RTE in good faith. It was a very important act of public service on behalf of the people who provided it. Is it not unfair to then expose those people in a way that they did not anticipate through the provision of the information at a later stage? It is a systems failure, rather than a small number of rogue operators.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I never liked the term "systems failure". It is a bit of a cop out when it is used so often. I do not see any evidence of a systems failure here. The evidence I have seen is of people taking bribes to pass test applicants. If there are systems issues, they relate to monitoring people while they conduct the tests. That is being improved and CCTV cameras are being introduced in the test centres to monitor what is happening. What happened in this case was that people took money to allow drivers cheat the testing system, but that is not a systems failure.

The Deputy's point with regard to RTE is valid. I would ask RTE to make available everything it can without compromising any commitments it made to people in terms of protecting their anonymity. I am sure it is possible to at least make the information available, without causing repercussions for the whistleblowers. I hope the whistleblowers understand that we are grateful they came forward and provided the information. It is important that whistleblowers are protected and acknowledged. I would hate to think whistleblowers in this situation would feel they might be penalised for what they did, because their action was a service to the State, the people and safety. We need as much information as possible so we can make the system watertight.