Call For All-Ireland Learner's Permit

There have been calls for the introduction of an all-Ireland Learner's Permit to combat the confusion surrounding the different laws in the two jurisdictions.

A Fine Gael spokesman today called for a complete overhaul of the licensing system, North and South of the border after a provisional driving licence holder from Donegal was charged in Northern Ireland with driving without a licence.

Joe McHugh, spokesman for North/South Co-operation said: "This young person, who was prosecuted in a Northern Irish court, would not have been prosecuted had he been stopped south of the border.

"It is ridiculous that two different sets of laws exist within the island of Ireland. Drivers living in border areas fail to recognise that there are different laws on the roads just minutes from their homes and who can blame them? The young person who was brought before the courts was a native of Lifford, which is, literally, minutes from Strabane."

He said the new proposal would see every learner driver on the island of Ireland issued with a learner's permit. These young drivers would also have to take five mandatory driving lessons before sitting their test.

He said: "As things stand, provisional drivers on both sides of the border cannot cross the border, even with a fully licensed driver supervising them. Where is the mutual co-operation spirit of the Belfast Agreement?

"It is clear that the licensing laws need an overhaul, but we now have an opportunity to introduce common system for the island of Ireland. I am calling on the Ministers from both jurisdictions to consider these proposals carefully."

(VB)