Cullen outlines vision for new driving licence

A credit card style driving licence complete with a microchip could harmonise penalty points and prosecution across Europe, a Dáil committee heard tonight.

Transport Minister Martin Cullen believes the move could have positive results for road safety in Ireland deterring van drivers from getting behind the wheel.

But such a scenario could be years away and may never even materialise.

Discussing Monday’s EU Transport Council meeting Minister Cullen told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport key items on the agenda would include road safety, aviation security and public transport.

He admitted he wasn’t happy about a recent ruling banning the outsourcing of 40,000 driving tests to private companies. He said: “The existing system cannot cope.

“We put forward a very good solution for a fixed number of tests over a fixed period of time to get rid of the backlog.

“It is not acceptable young men and women in this country can’t get a driving test.”

He added negotiations were ongoing to find a solution.