FG calls for Dempsey's resignation in licences row

Fine Gael has called for the Transport Minister to resign over the provisional-driver saga.

The opposition party said road safety is such an important national issue that it should "never have been reduced to such a level of incompetence by a government minister".

Noel Dempsey has confirmed that the regulations, which state that a second-provisional licence holder can only drive in the company of a fully-licensed driver, will now not come into force until June for those currently holding provisional licences.

Fine Gael said that this belated but welcome U-turn is the latest episode in the "shambolic affair".

The party’s transport spokesperson Fergus O’Dowd has said the Minister now needs to consider his position.