Irish Rail urged to show common sense over photo IDs

Irish Rail has been urged to adopt a common-sense approach when demanding photo identification from teenagers.

“If Irish Rail demands photo ID from younger rail users, it should provide it,” said Fine Gael’s John O’Mahony, who chairs the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications.

The TD raised the issue with Irish Rail after he was contacted by a number of parents fearful that they could face fines of €100 if their 14- or 15-year-olds did not produce ID on request.

Mr O’Mahony said that, apart from passport identification, it was very difficult for under-16s to obtain photo ID. “Under 16s cannot get an official photo ID, as national Garda identification is only issued to people aged 18 or over and driving licences are only issued to those over the age of 17.”

Mr O’Mahony said some parents did not have passports for their children and those that did would not let their children carry such a valuable document out of fear that it might be lost or stolen.

“I am calling on Irish Rail to use common sense on this matter and to desist from threatening parents and their children with the imposition of large fines,” he said. “Those who avail of the free travel pass, which does not contain a photo, are not required to prove who they are so I do not see the need to inflict this burden on younger users.”

Irish Rail spokesman Barry Kenny said there was discounted travel for children under the age of 16 that was just 50% of the adult fare in most cases.

“Where there is a doubt regarding the age qualification we do say it is the responsibility of the passenger or their guardian/parent to produce satisfactory evidence of age,” he said.

Mr Kenny said that, young travellers could carry the international student card, available for €15, as proof of identity. He suggested that in the absence of a State ID card, the Garda identification scheme could be extended to include younger ages as the system was already in place.