Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 7, before section 5, to insert the following new section:

"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.".

The Minister of State should seriously consider this amendment. It would allow the creation of a credit card-type driving licence. The road safety authority would be responsible for the co-ordination of the driving licence. The local authorities would co-ordinate the application form. The amendment provides for the introduction of credit card-type licences, a measure advocated by the previous Minister for Transport. This type of licence is required to give the road safety authority teeth as electronic licences will hold all relevant information on drivers.

The Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, recently announced his intention to introduce a zero alcohol limit for new drivers. How would one record information on those who broke such a limit, if not on a credit card-type driving licence? An electronic licence would record all relevant information about the holder, including whether he or she has incurred penalty points, has been disqualified from driving certain vehicles, holds a provisional, full or HGV licence and so forth. Such a system should be introduced immediately and responsibility for its operation should be vested in the road safety authority which must be able to impose penalties on drivers. An electronic driving licence is the best method of doing this.