John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Transport if citizens of other European Union countries resident here are entitled to drive here using a driving licence issued by their country of origin; if so, if there is a time limit within which they must obtain an Irish driving licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5399/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 1999, provide that a person who holds a driving licence issued by the competent authority of a member state of the European Union or of the European Economic Area may drive any vehicle of the category in respect of which the licence has been granted for the period for which the licence has effect or, alternatively, on taking up residence in Ireland may exchange that driving licence for an Irish licence.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for Transport if non-EU citizens resident here are entitled to drive here using a driving licence issued by their country of origin; if so, if there is a time limit within which they must obtain an Irish driving licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5400/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Non-EU citizens who are temporary visitors to Ireland and who hold a national driving licence or an international driving permit may drive here for the duration of their visit. In this regard "temporary" may be regarded as a period not exceeding 12 months. An international driving permit means a valid and properly completed international driving permit issued to a visitor under the convention of 1949 by the competent authority of the state in which he or she resides, or by an association duly empowered by such an authority to issue such a permit.

Australia, Isle of Man, Japan, Jersey, South Africa, South Korea and Switzerland are recognised states for the purpose of driving licence exchange under the terms of Article 30(7) of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations, 1999. Under these regulations, persons holding a valid driving licence from a recognised state may exchange their licence for an Irish driving licence where they take up residence here, without the need for a driving test. Other non-EU citizens taking up Irish residence must undergo the driver theory test, obtain a provisional licence and pass the driving test in order to obtain a driving licence.