Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I commend my colleague and friend Senator Seery Kearney on tabling this important Private Members' motion. I welcome the opportunity to speak on it. It is critical that we facilitate the full integration of Ukrainian families into our communities.

I want to address the issue of transport with regard to driving licences and the inability of Ukrainian licence holders to be able to drive here. We do not have a licence exchange agreement with Ukraine. It is important that Europe not only acts on this, it must expedite it as a matter of urgency. The immediate recognition by the European Union of Ukrainian driving licences must be addressed. Europe needs to recognise their driving licences. Driving cannot happen with the emergency relocation and it is critical that Europe acts collectively. This is not just an Irish matter, it is a European problem. I support the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, her approach at European level to ensure that there is recognition of Ukrainian driving licences. The immediate recognition of Ukrainian driving licences must be addressed by Europe. Ireland has raised the possibility in the European Union of recognition. I hope it can happen immediately. It is important that we as a country put pressure on Europe to recognise the importance of Ukrainian driving licences in Ireland. This is an anomaly because we have no agreement. Under the temporary protection directive people cannot drive here. It is important that Europe acts on this. It is important we have full integration. I commend the motion to the House and I thank Senator Seery Kearney for her work on it.