Minister Charlie Flanagan has today announced plans for a new 'passport card' that we can use to travel around the EU, instead of our passport.

The card will be available from mid-July, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs, and they hope it will prove particularly handy for frequent travellers.

In order to get a passport card, you still have to have a proper passport book, and the maximum amount of time that the card is available for is five years, or however long is left on your current passport.

The card will cost €35, but what with modern technology and all, you can apply through an app instead of having to fill out forms and wait years for your passport card to actually arrive.You can even snap a selfie on the app to be used on the ID, instead of the traditional photo. It has been approved with the EU for travel, so no need for you to bring your passport to the airport for your trip to Spain, you can just bring the new card instead.

The card can also be used as an identification for those people who still get asked for ID at the pub (sigh, we're so old) and if you need to apply for a visa or if your passport book is with an embassy for one reason or another.