Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the hassle caused by the lack of a driving licence exchange agreement with America. People moving from America and, more importantly, the returning Irish must go through the ordeal of doing either six or 12 driving lessons and resitting their test, even if they have been driving around New York and Boston for years.If they prove they passed the test in America, they get away with only six lessons. Otherwise, 12 lessons are required. Unfortunately, the relevant authority in America will only write to an American address to confirm that a test has been passed. If people have left their addresses behind them, which many of them have, it is an impossible situation. People are left facing the ordeal of a test. All of us remember our driving test. It is not something you would want to resit. This is causing hassle at a time when we are trying to welcome people back to Ireland, enhance investment and attract people from America to work here. It is an ordeal to expect people to go through their driving tests again. I would like the Minister to come to the House to debate the issue.