James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I checked with my colleague, Senator Coghlan, and he told me there was some climate change in the vicinity of Killarney last weekend. The hurricane has subsided but we should still have a debate on transport. The Tánaiste admitted in Killarney that the Government's transport policy is a shambles and it is important the House knows exactly what is happening.

The Minister for Transport should also take time in any debate on transport to discuss the waiting lists for driving tests. In the midlands, people have to wait for up to 14 months for a test, while the average wait across the country is 11 months. Last year the Minister said he would clamp down on unaccompanied driving by those on provisional licences. What is the policy and where is the Government going on the issue? We have heard little about it in recent times while the number of road deaths is increasing. The issue must be tackled by the Government if it intends to reduce the number of fatalities on the roads.