Ireland-Provisional licence rules deferred until June 30th 2008

Minister Dempsey said on RTÉ's This Week programme that he was deferring the introduction of the accompanied driver provision until 30 June 2008. The original announcement-allowing provisional drivers four days to put alternatives in place- provided clear cut evidence that the Government was out of touch on this issue. The incipient revolt frightened the Minister and Government.This is a major blow for Noel Dempsey's leadership ambitions. Perhaps he should heed the following advice: Festina Lente.