Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I will deal with specific aspects of the Bill and will then respond to questions arising from amendments Nos. 6 and 7. Instructors are the subject of amendment No. 8.

The driver testing service operates under the provisions of section 33 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, and in accordance with regulations made under that Act. The driving test is also governed by EU directives which stipulate the manoeuvres to be tested, and is set down in regulations under section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. As the regulatory and legislative framework of the driving testing service are contained in the Road Traffic Acts it would not be appropriate to include the amendments in this Bill. The road safety authority will be responsible for the operation of the driver testing service in accordance with the regulations and will also be responsible for the operation of the driver theory test service. Our intention is for the service level agreement, to be drawn up in accordance with section 26 of the Bill, to specify performance standards for the delivery of services by the road safety authority which will take account of the matters raised in the amendments proposed by Senator Paddy Burke.

Preconditions on candidates for driving tests would have to be set out in regulations and would require amendments to section 42 of the Act. I am considering tabling amendments to that section in the road traffic amendment Bill that it is hoped will be introduced in the Dáil shortly. It would not be appropriate to do so in this Bill. As part of the operation of the driver testing service the road safety authority will be responsible for ensuring a uniform standard of driving test and that training is given to testers to ensure adequate standards. In light of the authority's general duty under section 6 of the Bill to promote better driving standards, the amendment is not necessary.

One would get the impression from the contribution of Senator Cummins that a person is simply told after a test that he or she has passed or failed but that is not the case. Maybe I misunderstand the Senator but a detailed report is made after each test, which is as it should be. The testers undergo a comprehensive training programme and disabilities are catered for in the test.

I am aware that Senator Burke is committed to the Irish language at leaving certificate but his party is not. This is not the time for a debate on that issue.