MOTORISTS banned from driving in the UK and Northern Ireland will automatically be banned from driving in the Republic of Ireland from April 2008.

Despite operating a very similar penalty points system, accumulating 12 points in the UK has not automatically excluded motorists from driving in Ireland.

This new initiative, agreed at a recent British-Irish Council meeting, will mean driving bans apply across borders.

The UK and Ireland are also expected to link their penalty points systems later in 2008, meaning points accrued in both will count towards disqualification from driving.