Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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41. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the protocol in place in relation to the recognition here of British driving licences in respect of British citizens living and working here and if they will have to be replaced with European Union driving licences in light of the British electorate vote to leave the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19224/16]

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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Has a protocol been put in place in regard to the continued recognition here of British driving licences in respect of British citizens living and working here or will these licences have to be replaced with European Union driving licences in light of the British's electorates decision to leave the European Union?

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I thank Deputy Murphy for his question. He is pretty fast out of the traps.

​Following the referendum in the UK on leaving the European Union, the UK remains an EU member state for the time being. It is the understanding of the Government of Ireland that the UK intends at some point to invoke Article 50 of the European treaties, following which there is a two-year period during which future relations between the UK and EU will be negotiated. The issue of driver licence recognition is one of a great many matters which will have to be resolved between the UK and the EU during the negotiations. ​As in all other matters relating to the departure of the UK from the EU, it would be premature to speculate on any possible outcome to negotiations which have yet to begin.

Whatever the outcome of the negotiations with regard to the recognition of UK licences within the EU, Irish driving licence holders will be able to drive in the UK and UK licence holders will be able to drive here for up to one year as visitors under International Road Traffic Conventions which apply in both Ireland and the UK independently of EU provisions. Similarly, depending on the outcome of the negotiations, Irish authorities may be able to make bilateral arrangements, similar to those applying to other non-EU states, for the exchange of UK driving licences for Irish ones.

I am sorry that I cannot be more specific in my response to Deputy Murphy on this matter. It is a little early for these decisions to have been made, although I understand the Deputy is already receiving queries on the issue.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for being here to answer my question. I understand to a point why he cannot be more specific in his response. We heard several times today in the House, including from the Taoiseach and other Ministers, that the exit of Britain from the EU, which will happen if Article 50 is invoked, will lead to the creation of many problems here, particularly in relation to driving licences in the context of the return of the Border. I ask the Minister to formulate a policy in this area as soon possible. It is important that we act early in the situation.

While I agree with the Minister that we do not know what will happen in the context of the negotiations on Britain's exit from the EU, we need to prepare for it. The issue I have raised is one of many now arising out of the British electorate's decision to exit the EU, which we must respect. We must react as quickly as we can to deal with situations such as the one I have raised today in relation to driving licences.

I do not propose to come back in with another supplementary question following on from the Minister's response. I appreciate his response and ask that he keep me informed of any developments over the coming months.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I will do that. There are two distinct matters at issue: driving in other jurisdictions on a temporary visitor basis and exchanging driving licences on taking up residence in another jurisdiction. On the issue of driving in another jurisdiction on a temporary visitor basis the right to drive in another jurisdiction on a national licence is based on international road traffic conventions. These allow people to drive in signatory countries for up to a year as visitors. Ireland and the UK are parties to such conventions. This will remain the case regardless of what EU-UK arrangements may emerge. Irish driving licence holders will therefore be able to drive in the UK and UK licence holders will be able to drive here as visitors post Brexit. This is important for both business and tourism.

On the exchange of driving licences currently, as EU member states, Ireland and the UK operate driver licensing to the same standards and under EU law licences may be exchanged. This means that an Irish driving licence holder taking up residence in the UK may exchange his or her licence for a UK equivalent and the UK driving licence holder taking up residence in Ireland may exchange his or her licence for the Irish equivalent.

Am I correct that the Deputy does not propose to ask another supplementary question?

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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Yes.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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My Department is vigorously addressing the difficulties which we face as a result of Brexit. I will ensure that the issue raised by Deputy Murphy is among those addressed by it.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister.