The Government is to begin a clamp-down on young motorcyclists, requiring those with only provisional licences to undergo basic training before being allowed on public roads.
The proposals, which will come into effect on a phased basis from later this autumn, will affect nearly 70 per cent of the 32,000 licensed motorcyclists in Ireland.
Reacting to recent figures showing no marked change in the number of provisional licence holders in Ireland, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, told The Irish Times he was introducing a new "permit" system for motorcyclists, requiring them to undergo a basic training programme over a 10- day period.
"My immediate concern is to tackle the problem of motorcycles," he said. "Seventy per cent of motorcyclists have no full licence. Provisional licence holders are not supposed to carry pillion passengers but this occurs all the time, and a lot of people have died as a result."
Mr Brennan said his officials were finalising details of the new permit system which would be introduced later in the autumn.
There will be a transition or "grace" period in which current provisional licence holders will have the opportunity to undergo the training in order to comply with the regulations.
Riders are expected to undergo at least 10 training sessions before being awarded a permit.
Once it is introduced, the new system is expected to apply immediately to motorcyclists taking out provisional licences for the first time.
The new laws will impact on an estimated 22,000 motorcyclists who have only provisional licences.
Ireland has the highest rate of motorcycle-related fatalities in Europe, with 45 riders and pillion passengers dying on Irish roads last year. The motorcycle fatality rate in Ireland is 2.5 times that of the UK.