So, my car failed the NCT despite having spent €500 doing repairs. I went back to the mechanic and he sympathised with my plight finishing up with, 'Listen, we can get it to pass the NCT as I know a fella in there but it will cost you €250. That's between me and you though.'
He was serious, and I didn't doubt him for a minute. I retold the offer afterwards to somebody who knows his cars and his response was 'That's a rip-off, I know a guy in [blank] NCT centre and he'll do it for €150. Do you want me to ring him for you?'
I came home and said it to somebody at home and apparently this has been in the news lately. A quick Google later and low-and-behold more info on this handy number by employees of NCT produced this article:
http://www.tribune.ie/article/2009/jul/12/testers-allegedly-took-bribes-to-pass-unroadworthy/
I note the NCT employees were accused of getting only €50 per car, and my mechanic was saying it would cost me €250. Yes, I truly was being ripped-off. Well done once again, Ireland. From the very top to the bottom, this is a great country where everything can be bought and where law and order and its servants all have their price.
Are the judges also being bribed, or is it only a certain few? Are we not being told about it because the illusion of an open and fair system is important to the stability of the political system? Are Leaving Cert examiners being bribed, or is it only a certain few? We know very, very many politicians have been bribed. But my NCT test just brings the utter corruption, the absolute rot, in this state in 2009 home to me.