Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

Under EU Directive 126/2006, all member states are required to introduce a standard format plastic card driving licence by January 2013. Under the terms of the directive, the licence must feature the name and date of birth of the individual, the dates of issue and expiry of the licence, the licence number, and a photo and signature of the holder. The licence must also specify the category or categories of vehicle covered and any restrictions applying such as, for example, the need to wear glasses while driving. There is an option to include the holder's address, which we have chosen not to do, as it would represent a potential security risk and mean reissuing a licence each time a person changed address.

The Road Safety Authority has been tasked with delivering the project to introduce the plastic card licence. I have asked it to expedite this process to ensure the new Irish licence will be introduced in time to meet the requirements of the EU directive. The authority is progressing the project and my Department is maintaining close contact with it to ensure the project will be completed on time.

Once this form of licence is introduced, old-style paper licences will no longer be issued. However, existing paper licences will remain valid until their expiry date. They will be replaced by the new plastic licence as and when they come up for renewal.

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