No issue has been raised as often during Question Time and Adjournment Debates as the length of time young drivers must wait to sit the driving test and the number of people consequently driving with only a provisional licence. For the Taoiseach to suggest it was an accident or that, somehow, 430,000 could be overlooked is proof the Government is seriously out of touch.

To return to the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, if he was a driver rather than a Minister, he would be on his third provisional licence at this stage, with no prospect of passing the test.

Deputy Gilmore is still on a learner permit.

How bad must matters get before the "R" word dawns on somebody on the Government side of the House? Across the water, five or six Cabinet Ministers have had to resign. A Home Secretary resigned because the wrong figures were released about prisoner releases and an Education Secretary had to resign because the exams authority got something wrong, but no matter what a Minister of this country does or how badly he screws up there is never any question of a resignation or an apology to the House. Instead, he is rewarded with an increase in pay.

He gets an Oscar.

How bad must a Minister be or how many mistakes must he make before continuance in office becomes an issue for the Taoiseach? I do not wish to rehearse the Minister for Transport's legacy in terms of the areas where he has got into trouble, or indeed those of the Minister, Deputy Cullen, sitting beside him, or the costs involved to the taxpayer——

The Deputy should ask a question as we are over time.

How bad must matters get before the Taoiseach will decide he should part company with a Minister, rather than give him or her an increase in pay?

The point I made about the figures is that 122,000 people are on the waiting lists, while 430,000 people have provisional licences.

Did the Government not know all that on Thursday?

The Taoiseach, without interruption.

If people had to comply with the law by Tuesday, this would have created horrendous difficulties. However, we must face up to the difficulties. We cannot go ahead ——

How did it all change on Thursday?

The Taoiseach must be allowed to respond without interruption. I must make it clear that the only people entitled to make a contribution during Leaders' Questions are the leaders of the parties. This is straightforward under Standing Orders.

The waiting list can be cleared within a few months, but if the Garda starts to enforce the regulations, which it has not been doing and which has never been done, that would affect 430,000 people. That was not the focus for the Road Safety Authority, which worked on this matter every day, the Garda or ourselves. The people who work on this matter every day did not focus on that issue. It is easy in hindsight to say there are 420,000 waiting for tests. On the question as put by Deputy Gilmore, it is not the fact that we have discussed this issue here for years.

Why?

I will tell the Deputy. Some 40,000 people have had more than five provisional licences. They have no interest——

It was discussed.

The Taoiseach, without interruption.

These people never bothered to apply to do their test.

Some have been on provisional licences for ten years.

Some have been driving on provisional licences for 20 years, some have had 17 or 18 provisional licences. The point is they have never bothered to apply for a test. Only one in five people bother to apply. That is the reason for the difference as between 120,000 and 430,000. Everybody driving on our roads will have to comply with the new regulations. The position is that the number in question was not focused in by the Road Safety Authority, the Garda, the Department or the Government. The fact that Deputies Gilmore and Kenny mentioned that figure rather than the overall figure shows they did not focus on it either.

Now it is our fault.