Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Interestingly, I raised the issue of doctors yesterday and spoke about medical students, the huge tax implications and how it might be possible to overcome that in some way. Unless we solve that, we will be unable to reach a solution for the issues raised by Senators Mullins and Colm Burke. It is a big challenge but it is our responsibility to do something about it.

Some days ago I met a man from Australia who is now living in Ireland. He remarked that while Ireland wishes to establish itself as a leader in high technology, he had noted that our cars use the old fashioned method, dating from 1904 or so, of displaying tax, national car test, NCT, and insurance discs on the front windscreen.

He said that in New South Wales some years ago a modern method to do it was identified. Every police car is equipped with a scanner that can read the registration of every car in the country and they can immediately tell whether the owner has paid the tax, insurance or NCT. If we are trying to lead the world in technology, we are way behind if we do not remove all the old-fashioned ways of measuring compliance regarding cars. Britain is attempting to implement a modern method of identifying cars but is not getting there easily. It is in the interests of efficiency and of Ireland’s image as being involved in technology and we should do it immediately.