Strike by driver testers due to take place this week called off following agreement

A strike by driving testers that was due to take place this Friday has been called off following an agreement reached with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) last night.

The testers, represented by the Fórsa trade union, had threatened industrial action in a row over insurance cover after they claimed that testers are not fully covered by the State Claims Agency while carrying out their duties or carrying out tests in vehicles that are uninsured.

READ NEXT: Search stood down for 35-year-old woman missing since Valentines Day amid Garda update

Under the terms of the agreement, Fórsa has now withdrawn its strike notice and members will report for work as normal on Friday.

The agreement includes interim changes to operating procedures to allow staff to view proof of insurance, a formal assurance that driver testers are fully covered in all aspects of their work, and clearer guidance on procedures following any incident during a driving test.

The agreement also provides for a project plan to give driver testers access to the Irish Motor Insurance Database, with RSA management committing to make the system available within nine months of the necessary regulations being put in place.

Fórsa driver testers will be represented on a working group overseeing this process, alongside the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland and the Department of Transport.

In an statement to its members, Fórsa said,

READ NEXT: Young man in critical condition following hit and run as Gardaí urge witnesses to come forward

"The RSA will issue a letter of comfort to all driver testing staff confirming they are fully covered in all aspects of their work, including while conducting tests in uninsured vehicles.

"RSA management agree to have the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID) accessible to RSA driver testers within nine months after the necessary regulations are in place," they added.