6 weeks to clear a sterling bankers draft??

Recently transferred funds from UK via a sterling bankers draft to my Ulster Bank a/c. My bank are now telling me that it will take 6 weeks for these funds to clear. This seems ridiculous to me given that you cant get the draft on the other account unless the funds are cleared and available. I always believed that a banker's draft was as good as cash. Was hoping to buy a car shortly but looks like I will have to wait now. Does this seem right? Does anybody know of any way to speed up the process?

A draft is no better than a strangers cheque. They could be stolen, forged, altered etc.

I recently lodged a sterling cheque to an Irish bank and it was sent for collection too. It only took 2 weeks for the funds to be lodged to my account. May not take the full 6 weeks.

A draft is not as good as cash and the banks are especially wary of them these days due to the sheer volume of counterfeit drafts out there. There is also no speedy clearing system between UK and Irish banks, hence UB will have to send the draft to the UK, wait to be told by the UK bank that it is cleared and then wait for the funds to be exchanged before they can say it is cleared at their end. That should not take 6 weeks, 2 weeks should be sufficient. However UB are dependent on the UK bank acting in an efficient manner, some are better then others in that regard

Next time just send the money electronically, it will be much faster and may be cheaper to.

Thanks for all the responses. Hopefully it will clear in the two weeks instead of 6. It is showing in my a/c but the bank are telling me I cant draw on it.
I looked into electronic transfer but the UK bank was only giving me an exchange rate on 1.16 €/£. When I rang my Irish bank they offered 1.21 €/£ on a draft. This difference was significant for me.They didnt mention the 6 weeks clearing period though which I am not impressed with.