Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
1390. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is an EU Directive which states that a code should be used on the new driving licences rather than symbol to indicate that a person wishes to be an organ donor; the reason for such a directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17084/13]
View answerThe EU Directives relating to the format of the new driver licence are Directive 2006/126/EC and Directive 2011/94/EU. Neither makes any reference to organ donation.
One of the main purposes of the new EU licence is to provide harmonisation in the level of information in all Member States. The EU Directives provide for a series of number codes that Member States may include on the new licence format for various forms of information. Member States have the option of including additional information besides that required by the Directives. The use of number codes is a standard form of conveying information under the Directives, with codes from 100 upwards available to be used for such optional addition information as individual member states choose to require. Ireland has chosen to make an indication of willingness to be an organ donor available as an option, and this is therefore indicated by a number code. This replaces the option on the old paper licence, which had a box in which a licence holder could write indicating if they wished to be an organ donor.
