Took it for it's NCT ( MOT ) .
It had been laid up for nigh on three years in my garage so I had checked, serviced an recommissioned everything . I was very confident during the 32 mile drive to the testing station ( none of your local friendly test garages here Lad...) . Engine nice and hot upon arrival 4 minutes before allocated time only to be subjected to a 35 minute delay watching the "trained " testers waste time at every opportunity and having a secret cigarette....
Typically I drew the most sullen stonefaced git of a tester imaginable who after conducting the test gleefully told me that he was impressed with the cars condition but it had failed

OS dip out of alignment.
€ 28 retest fee applicable and had to be done in 30 days .
Yeah ...
Drove the 32 miles back home , took it to a friends garage and had him check it . he was truly surprised at the fail and even I could see the light profile was more right than wrong plus less than two turns fixed it .
Used my 'phone to get onto the test web site to re book and found a retest appointment available for 17.50 pm today .
Drove back and presented the car to a somewhat surprised tester who grudgingly printed the pass cert.
So €55 for the test then another €28 for the retest and a 130 mile drive for a disputed alignment issue.
Anyway , it was a beautiful sunny day driving through the mountains and after all this time I thoroughly enjoyed driving the car again .

The NCT system is run by a private contractor in Ireland with a heavy " for profit " ethos .................You cannot debate any issue with any of the in house staff and can only raise a complaint or query at their Head Office .