Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The short answer is "Yes", but we have to do it in a very careful way because there is a balance here. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to move back to their country. We want them back. This is an issue that definitely comes up. It came up a number of times when I was in the United States in February and March. It comes up from our diaspora all of the time. What we have to do is make sure there is a recognition that the level of qualification matches our expectation as regards road safety and vice versa. I am pleased to say a lot of work has been undertaken. We now have agreement with Australia and a majority of the Canadian provinces. The next big piece of work is with the US. The way we have decided to do this is state by state starting, or at least trying to start, with those with the highest proportion of Irish-born citizens. The Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, are leading that for my Department and the Department of Transport. We want to begin discussions shortly with key US states. The Deputy is right that it would be very helpful.