Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress made in introducing a credit card type driving licence. [21984/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In June 2003 a notice requesting the submission of tenders to supply a plastic card licence was published in the EU Official Journal. A number of developments took place following receipt of tenders and the proposals were reviewed in the light of these developments. These developments included the publication of a draft EU Directive on driving licences in October 2003 proposing the issuing of new licences in plastic card format only and allowing the introduction of an optional microchip on the driving licence. There have also been developments concerning anti-fraud protection measures and possible developments ineGovernment.

Having considered these matters it was decided not to proceed with the tender invitation of 16 June, 2003. I do not propose to issue a revised tender in the short term as some issues remain to be determined at EU level, including the specification of the microchip.