Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 7 September 2026
804. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 732 of 25 March 2026, for an update on his Department's consideration of any technological solutions to identify vehicles on the roads with illegal licence plates with a view of improving enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62923/26]
View answerIn my reply to the Deputy’s question No. 732 of 25 March 2026, I confirmed that the issue of non-compliance with legislation related to vehicle registration plates is of cross-departmental policy relevance, having regard to the role that correct vehicle identification has in the areas of road safety, law enforcement, and vehicle taxation.
The Finance Act 1992 (as amended) provides for the registration of vehicles, the charging of vehicle registration tax and the assignment of a unique identification mark to each vehicle upon registration. The Vehicle Registration and Taxation Regulations, 1992 (as amended), set out the detailed requirements for the format of vehicle registration plates.
It is an offence, under Section 139 of the Finance Act 1992, to display a false registration number, the wrong registration number on a vehicle, the registration plate in an incorrect format or an obscured registration plate. A person who is found guilty of this offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine of up to €5,000.
Revenue and An Garda Síochána actively collaborate to tackle vehicle registration offences, which includes regular engagement on multi-agency checkpoints.
In line with the Road Traffic Act 2010 (Part 3) (Fixed Charge Offences) Regulations 2024, a member of An Garda Síochána is fully empowered to issue a fixed charge (FCN) of €60 to a driver who fails to comply with number plate requirements. The Minister for Justice may be in a position to provide the Deputy with details of the technology used and Garda activity in this area.
As outlined in my previous reply, work is being undertaken on an interdepartmental basis to examine the potential for additional regulatory measures to combat the misuse of registration plates. The question of technological solutions is being considered as part of that work.
