John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

That was good timing, as I also wish to congratulate Fr. Padraig Devine, who I have known for many years. Indeed, he attended Maynooth College with my wife and she has good memories of their time there. As Senator Leyden pointed out, this is an absolutely magnificent achievement for anyone but for an ordinary Padraig Devine from the west of Ireland it is a huge achievement. I really wish to congratulate him and to let him know that everyone in County Roscommon is very proud of him in this regard. To put it all in context, this award came about 25 years ago, when it was inspired by Mother Teresa.

Second, I wish to raise another issue that has been a bugbear of mine for a number of years, namely, the cost of insurance for young learner drivers. I have made the point many times that particularly at present, families simply cannot afford to pay €1,500 or €2,000 each year just to put their 17 or 18 year olds onto their car insurance. Moreover, in most cases those children are away in college and are only at home for two days of the week. Consequently, I ask the Leader to take some advice from Members of this House and bring to the attention of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the possibility of putting in place some other scheme by insurance companies whereby insurance is made available on a two day week basis to children aged 18 or 19 who are learning how to drive. I would appreciate what can be done by the Leader in this regard.