Good afternoon, and on behalf of the Board of MAG Ireland I would like to wish you all a very warm welcome for our 2007 Annual Group Conference. Thanks to MAG Wexford for the kind offer to help us host the conference here in Drinagh. I hope that that you will all enjoy today's conference and participate in the discussions, MAG is your organisation and your active involvement is vital.

As motorcyclists, and MAG members, we share a common passion for motorcycling. MAG exists to promote and protect the freedom and enjoyment that motorcycling has given each of us, and while we may sometimes differ on the details, this goal is at the heart of MAG's existence.

Over the last year there has been some progress in areas which MAG has been campaigning on for some years. Finally, after an outrageous wait of sixteen years, we have an updated Rules of the Road. This is a small but important step in ensuring that motorists are educated in how to use the roads legally and safely.

However there is a great deal more that the Government needs to be doing. Although proposals for Compulsory Basic Training for motorcyclists are at an advanced stage, and MAG has had much input into these, concerns remain about the affordability of the training for novice riders. Indeed, some instructors particularly in rural areas may find that the cost of becoming an officially approved instructor and the yearly fee to remain on the register of approved instructors, makes it uneconomic for them to provide compulsory basic training. Another major problem is the lack of suitable venues to carry out off-road training, and insurance is a major issue here. MAG is calling on the Government to provide funding to assist with the provision of suitable venues for basic motorcycle training. This is a problem unique to motorcycle training and, given the large amount of motoring taxation we all pay, could be solved by a tiny fraction of our taxes.

Although MAG has been involved in the motorcycle Compulsory Basic Training proposals for over two years now, it remains our policy and belief that a proper system of training and testing must be put in place for all road users. The current situation where just a theory test pass is enough to allow several years of unsupervised and untested driving is nothing short of a disgrace. This is a situation which should have been ended many years ago and in spite of many announcements from governments over the years, no action has been taken. Perhaps now that the election is over, the incoming government can finally get to grips with this problem without fearing the loss of 400,000 provisional licence holders' votes? In conjuction with provisional licence reform, the driving test needs to be modernised and waiting lists slashed. MAG Ireland will be seeking an early meeting with the new Minister for Transport to address these issues and others of concern to us.

Insurance has been a major concern of MAG Ireland ever since its foundation, and this year we have had some of the best news ever since we helped to end the insurance monopoly a decade ago. The legal restrictions on insurers from other EU countries operating here have finally been loosened. This has allowed E-Bike, which has been operating in the UK for several years, to enter our market, which they will be doing in the summer. In addition, the Irish based Quinn Direct have entered the market, and we are aware of other companies expressing interest. Finally there is real competition entering the market and premiums are starting to fall. MAG will continue to campaign for the removal of barriers to competition, and will seek that greater choice be provided to all riders including novices.

MAG has been very active over the past year on the European front, in conjunction with FEMA, the Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations. FEMA have been organising opposition to wire rope barriers and is hopeful that the EU will ban the installation of wire rope barriers within the next couple of years. On the national level, several countries have already stopped new wire rope being installed, and some are removing it in particularly hazardous locations such as bends. MAG Netherlands have achieved a great success in persuading their national parliament to ban wire rope barriers. MAG Ireland congratulates our Dutch colleagues in their achievement, and will continue to campaign in Ireland to have these dangerous installations removed.

By far the largest project undertaken by FEMA over the last year was its campaign on the EU Third Driver Licensing Directive. The rules on restricted bike licences, introduced here in 1999, were as a result of the Second Driver Licensing Directive. Unfortunately, the Irish government has repeatedly refused to implement the provisions on Direct Access, meaning that when the time spent waiting for a test is taken into account, a rider can be restricted for at least three years even if they pass the test first time. The new Third Directive has the advantage of not allowing member states to opt out of Direct Access. The problem is that it introduces a testing system which would force many riders to pass two tests in order to gain an unrestricted licence. Given that we cannot organise a system with only one driving test in this country, this is likely to lead to chaos! It also is further unfair discrimination against motorcyclists as other road users will not have such barriers placed in their path. FEMA and its member organisations including MAG Ireland fought hard to have the Third Directive amended, however this was unsuccessful. The focus now switches to how the directive will be implemented in national law, and MAG Ireland will be campaigning hard to ensure that the benefits of Direct Access are achieved without forcing double testing on riders as far as possible.

[Membership drive - funding?!?!]

I would like to close by thanking everyone who has supported MAG in the last twelve months. Whether by subscribing; be encouraging others to join; by giving up their time to help run a local group; by setting up a new local group; by manning a MAG Stand at a rally or show; everything that MAG does for the benefit of motorcycling depends on voluntary support. Thank you.

I would like to thank my fellow members on the outgoing Board - Linda O'Loideoin , Marc O'Loideoin, Gearoid O'Byrne and Peter Bartlett for the great efforts they have made for the benefit of MAG over the last year.
I would also like to thank all those who have been involved in MAG at the local group level, whether by organising group meetings or by participating.
Most importantly, I would like to thank you all for attending today, and wish a prosperous and safe year ahead to you all. I hope that MAG will continue to receive your support in the coming year.

Thank you.

Eoin Kirwan
26th May 2007