On demand, Irish style

Politicians are as guilty as anyone when it comes to misuse of language, sometimes because they don’t actually understand the meaning of the words they use but often because it can allow a perception to spread that may not reflect the reality.

One example of this is the now regular use of the phrase ‘On Demand’ by the likes of Noel Dempsey when referring to the Government’s aim for driving test waiting times.

He regularly states that by June 2008, people applying for a driving test will have an ‘on demand’ or ‘virtually on demand’ wait of 10 weeks - which of course is an oxymoron.

On demand means just that, that a product or service is available at the moment there is demand; in other words whenever the consumer wants it.

To illustrate this, here are some statements that are generally true:

Money from an ATM is on demand.
Access to a telecoms network is on demand.
Light from a working lamp is on demand.

Mortgage applications are not on demand.
Buses are not on demand.
A 2-3 month wait for a service is not on demand.

Could someone suggest to the Minister for Transport that a wait that stretches into weeks and months is not ‘on demand’? Could they also point out that there is no such thing as being ‘virtually on demand’ and that this is about as logical as Fine Gael saying they were virtually the winners of the 2007 General Election?