In December 2025 it was confirmed that driver testers are not fully and unconditionally covered by the State Claims Agency while carrying out their duties, particularly when conducting tests in uninsured vehicles. 

In addition, the insurance verification system leaves driver testers at risk when carrying out their work. Currently there is no way to verify whether vehicles presented for driving tests are fully insured, and therefore driver testers may not be fully indemnified. 

95% voted in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike action, with 83% of members taking part in the ballot.  

The union said the absence of a proper insurance verification system, combined with inadequate indemnity protections, has left staff exposed and under pressure to proceed with tests in circumstances that would be unacceptable in any other area of public service. 

Engagement at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) will take place on Tuesday 20th January, following a joint referral made by the parties in December. 

Fórsa official Ruairí Creaney said: “The ballot result demonstrates that members want this issue resolved once and for all. We will raise their concerns at the WRC next week and from there we will determine the next steps.”  

He continued: “What’s for certain is that the current situation cannot continue. Driver testers cannot be expected to get into vehicles to do their jobs when they have no clarity on whether the vehicle is uninsured. We need a straightforward guarantee of indemnity for driver testers, and a proper insurance verification system. Access to the National Insurance Database can be addressed by the Minister for Transport and we’re calling on him to look at this issue urgently.” 

Philip Lambert, Fórsa branch chairperson and a driver tester in Dún Laoghaire, added: “Workers should be protected at work, not put in harm’s way. It’s simply unacceptable that we would be expected to ‘prove negligence’ in the event of an accident at work in order to be protected. Everyone deserves to be able to do their job with safety and confidence.”  

A memo issued by RSA management to driver testers in December confirmed that staff are not automatically covered by the State Claims Agency if they conduct a test in a vehicle that is not properly insured. Instead, the memo stated that a driver tester would only be covered “in circumstances where he/she could prove negligence on the part of the RSA”, which driver testers regard as a serious and ongoing risk.  

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