Varadkar says new licences not open to fraud

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar insists the new credit card-size driving licence is not open to fraud abuse.

Renewal photos sent in by drivers to update five and 10-year permits will be electronically cross-checked to ensure legitimacy, and the new-look licence will be far harder to forge, he said.

The photographic element of the new licence, which will take a decade to roll out, has caused most controversy as motorists could be facing four-hour round trips to get their pictures taken.