Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

In its four years of operation, the NCT failure rate has risen every year. In 2001, 62% of cars passed the test first time. In 2002, 53% of cars passed first time. In 2003, 52% passed first time and in 2004 the figure was51%. As the objective of the NCT is to improve car safety, one would have anticipated a reduction in the failure rate over four years rather than an increase. Earlier tests result sheets contained a column headed "Fail Advisory". In 2003 the "Fail Advisory" column disappeared and cars either passed or failed on the various aspects of the test. This is why the failure rate has risen.

Has the Minister of State ever heard a coroner state that a road fatality occurred because the Irish language did not appear on a car number plate? It is ridiculous to fail a car on that point. In only 1% of cases can a car accident be attributed to safety factors. We are all in favour of safety elements in cars but in this case pettiness has gone daft.

When the Minister reviews the NCT next year he should contrast our system with that in the United Kingdom. In Great Britain and Northern Ireland, designated garages are licensed to administer the equivalent test. Their success rate is higher than ours. In Northern Ireland, 78% of cars pass first time round and only 22% require a retest. In Ireland, in 2004, 49% of cars required a retest. In many cases in Northern Ireland and Great Britain a tester will give a motorist a chance to do a retest without an extra charge if it is done in a short period of time. Many such free retests involve aspects of the test which used be covered by the fail advisory which is now not available. In Northern Ireland there are approximately 30 aspects of the test where a car can pass even though minor adjustments are required.

Last June's European and local elections showed that the electorate is fed up with the layers of petty regulations. They are told they must not do this, that or the other. Their cars must pass minor tests. The windscreen washer must be full of water and working correctly and there must be no deviation in the foot pedals. People are sick and tired of this.