Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The opportunity was taken with everybody's co-operation to change the basis for appointing transport officers who are employed by the Road Safety Authority. They inspect road haulage operations and check tachograph readings, transport company records and compliance with the legislation. They perform an important road safety function. The result of the amendment will be that transport officers may now be appointed directly by the Road Safety Authority, which will employ them, rather than by the Minister. That clears up that small anomaly.