What is pink and crumpled and falling apart? You probably have one in your wallet or purse, but its days are now numbered. The answer is of course the humble driving license, which looks set to be replaced in Ireland with a plastic credit card type version.

The move is part of a Europe wide initiative to reduce fraud and assist with policing of cross border motoring offences. New licenses are expected to appear by January 2013, for renewals and new applicants, but there will be no compulsion to change from the paper version. The plan is also to take licensing issuing away from local authorities to a central agency.