Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review a case (details supplied) regarding the issuance of a driver's licence. [10122/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The driver licensing regime is defined in the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 537 of 2006), as amended. The supporting documentation required in conjunction with an application for the issue or renewal of a driving licence is set out in the statutory application form D.401. The currently valid version of this form is defined in the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 544 of 2010). Section G of the form requires the submission of the current licence with the application. The text of the regulations also makes clear that the current licence should accompany the application. I note that, in the case to which the Deputy refers, a copy of the current licence, rather than the licence itself, has been submitted. In addition, Regulation 54 of the Regulations of 2006 allows the licensing authority to request as evidence of identity any of a number of types of document, of which a passport is one. The Immigration Certificate of Registration, commonly referred to as a GNIB card, is not one of the listed forms of documentation. However, there are thirteen different types of documentation which the licensing authority, in this case the Motor Taxation Office (MTO) of Dublin City Council, may accept. I would suggest that a reasonable solution could be found as to which form of identification the MTO might accept, especially given that the individual concerned has already received an Irish driving licence. The application must, however, be accompanied by the original licence and not a copy.

In regard to the Deputy's request that I review this case, the licensing of drivers operates through the MTOs of the local authorities, and I have no authority over their operation.