Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to extend penalty points to foreign nationals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8955/08]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the establishment of a non-Irish registered vehicle driver file to ensure that all vehicles on roads here are subject to the same laws, regulations and penalties and that any fines or penalties accrued by a driver of a foreign registered vehicle are realised; the progress made on the mutual recognition of penalty points between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9616/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 54 together.

All drivers are subject to road traffic law and enforcement is a matter for An Garda Síochána. The realisation of any fines or penalties imposed by the Courts is a matter for the Courts Service.

The enforcement on foreign registered drivers of penalties for road traffic offences is a complex legal and administrative matter for many States, and my Department is pursuing this question at European, British/Irish and North/South levels.

We are working with the United Kingdom with the objective of having a bilateral agreement on mutual recognition of driving disqualifications in place later this year, under the framework of the relevant EU Convention.

The mutual recognition of penalty points is however a much more difficult matter which is not covered by the EU Convention. In particular it involves complex legal questions which have yet to be determined and which will require the passage of primary legislation both here and in the United Kingdom in due course. While both jurisdictions are working on this, it will be some time before a bilateral agreement can be put in place on this particular issue.