Plans to Change Drivers License to Plastic Card Format Make Sense-Oireachtas Committee

Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD told the Committee that from 2013 Ireland was obligated by the EU to scrap the current paper style drivers license and replace it with a plastic card type design. The Minister told the Committee that the Road Safety Authority (RSA) had began preparations for this initiative.
 
Committee Chairman, Ciaran Lynch TD said;
“Committee members spoke positively about this sensible step. It will make carrying around the drivers license easy and more practical. The current paper licence is not suitable for keeping in a wallet or purse. This means that you won’t always have it on your person if asked to produce it.
 
This new design will make it far easier to carry around and have with you at all times. It will also mean that the license could be used for other identification purposes such as ID for flights.”
 
Among some of the other issues outlined at the meeting and contained in the bill were;

• A graduated licence system, whereby newly qualified drivers will be required to display an R plate

• A new provision which will allow the authorities to take a sample of blood from unconscious drivers in hospital until such time that they can give consent to its analysis.

• Mandatory breath testing.

Today’s meeting was considering the General Scheme for the Road Traffic Bill 2010. In a new procedure, this proposed legislation was brought to an Oireachtas Committee before its publication, this gives Committee members greater influence on the legislative process.  It will mean that an Oireachtas Committee will now have a greater effect on how legislation is framed and constructed. Today’s meeting was the first occasion which this new system was used.

Deputy Lynch said:
“Also, the opportunity for an Oireachtas Committee to get an early input into legislation is a welcome step. Sometimes, in the past, there was a sense that Committee were rubber stamping legislation rather than make making a worthwhile contribution.”
 
For further information please contact:

Daniel English
Oireachtas Communications Office
01 618 4484
087 6949926