Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe has been called on to investigate measures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Car Test (NCT).

It comes after the Dáil was told yesterday that one tester refused to examine a car because there were dog hairs on the seats.

The claim was made by Sinn Féin's transport spokesman Dessie Ellis, who wants the government to look more closely at the NCT service.

He said some people believe their cars are failing the NCT simply so they can be charged for a re-test - and that the system can be too harsh.

"I don't see why that the charge should be so high, and that's an area I feel people are being penalised" he told the Dáil.

"And in a case where I dealt with one person where the person wouldn't entertain the car because there were a few dog hairs in the car, I just think that that's a bit much".

He told Newstalk Breakfast common sense should prevail.