Motorists have been warned about a website that claims it can obtain driving licences from other EU countries for customers at a cost of up to €600.
The website, www.speedlicence.com , is aimed at those who have failed their driving test, have had their licence taken away for traffic convictions or have had to retake the test for age reasons. It claims to be able to obtain a licence from one of nine EU states by exploiting a legal loophole, without the need for a test or "technically" breaking the law.
This licence can then be exchanged for an Irish one, it claims.
The site claims EU citizens have a right to obtain a licence from any EU member state, and argues that motorists are better off driving on a foreign licence as it makes it more difficult to prosecute them for driving offences.
"If you have points on your existing licence and would like to exchange it for a clean licence then we can help, because harmonisation of penalty points between EU states has not occurred between all EU members yet. Driving endorsements can be totally lost once you exchange your licence with another country," it claims.
Fine Gael MEP Maireád McGuinness described the claims as dubious, but added that if they were true, the entire licensing system would be in jeopardy.
Ms McGuinness raised the issue with the European Commission. In a written response, it said licences could only be issued to residents of the relevant state.