Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 20:

In page 7, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:

5.—(1) On the establishment day, the Authority shall assume all responsibility for driver licensing, including, but not limited to—

(a) issuing and re-issuing of licences, including duplicate and replacement licences and requests for changes of address,

(b) imposition of endorsements and penalty points,

(c) revocation of licences, and

(d) shape, design, ergonomics and colour of licences.

(2) As soon as is practicable after the establishment day, the Authority shall move to introduce a physical driving licence format—

(a) that is practicable,

(b) that is more easily portable,

(c) that is in line with international best practice, and

(d) which retains driver information electronically.

(3) The Authority shall have jurisdiction to modify and/or vary restrictions on categories of licence holder, whether provisional or otherwise.

As the House discussed this amendment at length this morning in the context of electronic licences, I do not propose to discuss it in great detail. Its purpose is to provide that the national safety authority assume all responsibility for driver licensing, including such matters as the shape and design of driver licences. I am anxious to ensure the system is streamlined and a single body is given responsibility for driver licensing. It is ludicrous and one of the reasons for many of our road safety problems that this responsibility, like transport matters generally, is dispersed over many agencies. It is not good governance that local authorities and the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Transport and Justice, Equality and Law Reform have different roles in this area. The amendment proposes to streamline the system.

See this speech in context