Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the families in Clondalkin, to wish the victim who is in hospital well and to wish her a speedy recovery.

I ask the Leader to consider inviting the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to the House in the not too distant future to discuss the many problems that returning emigrants encounter when they come back to Ireland, particularly from the USA. I will outline a few problems they face. It is difficult for a person who has been in America for a number of years to open a bank account here in Ireland. It is also very difficult for a person to get car insurance. The cost of car insurance here is very high, particularly for somebody returning from the United States who does not have an Irish driving licence, but who has a driving licence from one of the 50 states in America. I ask that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade come to the House to discuss what can be done. I know that we do not have any deal on driving licences with the United States, because there are 50 states in America with different licences, but we have deals with many other countries around the globe where their licences are recognised in this State and ours are recognised in theirs.

Perhaps something can be done about that, because it is important that a person's driving licence is recognised when he or she comes here, particularly when buying and insuring a car. I have come across some people who have come here and it is cheaper for them to rent a car on a long-term basis rather than buy a car and insure it given the exorbitant cost of insurance here. The fact that they have to resit a driving test should be considered. It should also be made easier for people returning here to open a bank account, particularly those who left our shores for quite a number of years and are returning, because we welcome back all emigrants. Some are coming back into the workforce, where they are badly needed at present. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to the House to address those issues.