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Anthony Devlin/PA Archive

Government rules out allowing personalised registration plates

Michael Noonan says the current system of car registrations is simple – and allowing personalised plates would cause confusion.

THE GOVERNMENT has dismissed suggestions that Ireland allow motorists to register personalised numberplates for their cars – warning that the system would be too complicated.

Michael Noonan had been asked to consider the idea by Fine Gael backbencher Billy Timmins, who suggested that allowing bespoke numberplates could “cut down on unnecessary administration”.

Noonan dismissed the proposal, however, saying he did not want to change the current system which allows prospective buyers to figure out the age, and registration place, of a vehicle at a glance.

“It is seen as a simple and effective registration plate system which is indeed the envy of many European registration authorities, including the UK,” Noonan wrote in a parliamentary reply to Timmins.

A move to a more complicated plating system, using variations of letters and numbers, could create confusion without providing any real benefits.

The minister also warned that allowing a parallel system of personalised numberplates would place further demands on other agencies like the Gardaí, the government and the Revenue Commissioners.

“The small size of the Irish car market, the potential for confusion and increased tax evasion, as well as the costs of administering such a scheme, raise considerable doubts as to whether any real overall benefit would accrue to the State,” he said.

Would you be in favour of a personalised numberplate system?


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    Mute Optimus Prime
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    Apr 11th 2020, 3:25 PM

    Wish they all recover. Wishes. Will we change our cruise line habits after this period?

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Apr 11th 2020, 9:55 PM

    I wouldn’t be kissing any tarmac runways after a cruise in any case!

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    Mute Bran Brans
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    Apr 11th 2020, 5:29 PM

    Not at all import in the grand scheme of things, but that is a HiFly A340-300, not an A350. Wish all the passengers well. I’m sure they are super relieved to be getting on that flight.

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    Mute Finnster
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    Apr 11th 2020, 7:03 PM

    @Bran Brans: terrible that they were told they were getting on a A350 for them then to be told it would only be a 340-300 . It’s a travesty

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    Mute Bran Brans
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    Apr 11th 2020, 7:51 PM

    @Finnster: I’m sure there was no confusion in Montevideo, unless of course they read this Journal article prior to boarding…

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    Mute Joy Keppel
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    Apr 11th 2020, 9:25 PM

    @Finnster: I’m sure they’re just glad to be off that cruise ship and on their way home… The size of the aircraft surely doesn’t matter as long as it gets them back to Australia and new Zealand..

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