Driving licence makeover

All new driving licences issued in Ireland from today will be in the form of a plastic “credit card”, as a new European Union…

All new driving licences issued in Ireland from today will be in the form of a plastic “credit card”, as a new European Union directive comes into force.

The move is part of a move to harmonising EU-wide driving licences.

Existing licences will still be valid, and will be changed to the new format at the time of renewal, or by 2033 at the latest.

Ireland is one of the few countries in Europe to still have a paper licence.

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Speaking in Brussels yesterday, EU transport commissioner Siim Kallas said the new licences were a key way of tackling fraud and road safety, as well as improving access between member states.