Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to be associated with those Members who have expressed condolences to the Currie family. Austin Currie was a giant of Irish politics and the only person to have served on the Executive on both sides of the Border. I extend my condolences to our colleague, Senator Emer Currie, as well.

I also wish to be associated with those who have expressed support for the America's Cup coming to Ireland. I am a sailor, not at that level, but I can recognise the massive benefit inherent in that project coming to Ireland and I support that.

I want to mention driver's licences. Members will be aware that driver's licences are divided into different categories according to what kind of vehicle is being driven. A is for motorbikes, AM is for mopeds, W is for work vehicles and tractors, and B is the standard car licence. Until 2006, those who got a B licence automatically got an AM and a W category licence. The W is still given but the AM has ceased since October 2006. Any people who got licences for the standard car over the past 15 years are not given the right also to drive mopeds. I simply do not see the sense in that. We are unique in the EU in that regard. Every other country accords that extension to people who have an ordinary car licence. An AM is a moped of a certain size and capacity, which can only do a certain speed and can only travel with a certain power. It makes absolute sense that we should allow people to use mopeds from an environmental, traffic and common-sense point of view. Can we make time for a debate on that, or call for the Minister for Transport to revise that policy and bring us in line with our colleagues in the EU?