Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

On Tuesday's Order of Business I called for the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children to come to the House to clarify what is the situation with regard to the ten-point plan for accident and emergency services. It is clear that the whole situation is in tatters. What one must appreciate in regard to a programme like Joe Duffy's is that it is symptomatic of people's frustration that in articulating their concerns, business people would offer three portacabins fitted out with beds and to provide accident and emergency units with lockers. If the Minister wanted an example of the frustration she would have it in that programme yesterday. It is a shocking commentary on the situation that we have come to this. It is all very well to speak fine words at a conference but what people need at this stage is action.

October 2001 was the last time an extra driving tester was recruited. In excess of 120,000 people are waiting for driving tests. Some waiting periods extend beyond a year while the average is 38 weeks. Young drivers come to see public representatives because they are frustrated that they are charged excessive amounts for car insurance because they have provisional licences yet they cannot do the test. The Minister has spoken about penalty points. The Minister of State, Deputy Callely, has come to the House to introduce changes to driving tests. The issue of road safety is regularly discussed. If we want to get all these components in place and resolve this problem it is essential that we appoint more driving testers and do something about the backlog. It has gone on for far too long. This is another area in which action and a positive approach is required by the Administration.