Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on ensuring that any driving ban enforced on motorists in either the Republic or Northern Ireland should be effective on both sides of the border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6586/07]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Transport when he expects mutual recognition of penalty points to be introduced on both sides of the border with Northern Ireland; and the other areas of cooperation his Department is working on at present. [6551/07]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress made to date in relation to the implementation of an All-Ireland penalty point system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6601/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 112 and 167 together.

In relation to driver disqualification a framework for the mutual recognition of disqualifications is contained in the European Union Convention on Driving Disqualifications (98/C 216/01). The Convention relates to disqualifications arising from a range of specified traffic offences including drink-driving, speeding and dangerous driving. Irish legislation to support the application of the Convention is contained in the Road Traffic Act, 2002.

In advance of the Convention fully coming into force and following a Ministerial meeting of the Transport Sectoral Group of the British-Irish Council on 9 February 2006, I have formally agreed with the UK Minister of State for Transport to enter into bilateral arrangements on the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications as envisaged in the EU Convention.

The UK Minister for State for Transport wrote to me recently advising me that it is now likely to be later than the first half of 2007 when the UK and NI authorities will have the necessary legislative and consultative processes complete to enable mutual recognition to be put in place. Officials continue to work to ensure that the necessary administrative arrangements are in place to enable relevant administrations to recognise and take action on driving disqualifications occurring in the other jurisdiction.

In relation to lesser offences, the North South Work Programme, as agreed by the North South Ministerial Council, included a commitment to examine the mutual recognition of penalty points between the Republic of Ireland and the North. However, in addition to the fact that separate penalty point systems operate in the two jurisdictions on this island, the system that operates in Northern Ireland differs from that applying in Great Britain. For that reason, it was agreed that it would be more appropriate to pursue the question of mutual recognition of penalty points on the basis of the operation of the three systems and that it would also be more appropriate that it would be dealt with under the auspices of the British-Irish Council.

As Northern Ireland has the lead role for transport matters in the BIC, the authorities in that jurisdiction are taking the lead in considering this issue. It was agreed at the British-Irish Council meeting on the 9 February 2006 that officials should examine the prospects for greater co-operation in the treatment of road traffic infringements where the penalty falls short of disqualification. Arising from work in this area I have agreed with the UK Minister for State for Transport the terms of reference proposed for a study of the feasibility of greater cooperation between us in relation to lesser road traffic infringements with a view to our officials undertaking a study on this basis. Work on this study is ongoing.