Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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132. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the data that will be contained on the new driving licence; if he will ensure that provision is made for the inclusion of basic medical data and emergency contact numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40881/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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EU Directive 126/2006 required Member States to introduce a Plastic Card Licence System commencing in January 2013.  Under the EU Directive, the information to be contained on the face of the new form of licence is uniform across Member States and there is little leeway to add further information as the available space on the card is very small.  In Ireland, we decided to use this available space to continue to allow a licence holder indicate their wish to be considered as an organ donor, a feature which was available on the old paper licence.  The Road Safety Authority, as the driver licensing authority, is, at present, examining the possibility of including a microchip on the new licence.  The Authority is considering the information that might be included on the microchip should it proceed in this way.