Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I support the sentiments express by Senator O'Toole on the issue of a user-friendly, plastic card, driving licence system. Recently, I attended an EU Transport Ministers' Council meeting. Ireland is co-operative in agreeing to an appropriate EU driving licence for all member states but other players are not as willing to participate. Some member states issue a driving licence for life, so an elderly driver might end up with a ragged licence bearing his or her communion picture. Such a system can cause complications. Ireland has a ten-year driving licence system and we are prepared to work with our EU counterparts to come up with an appropriate, user-friendly, plastic smart-card system. It would be very beneficial in avoiding fraud.