Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the regulations governing the acquisition of a full Irish driving licence by experienced drivers from abroad whether immigrants or returning Irish; if experienced drivers will be exempted from having to take driving lessons, having to take a written test and having to undergo a driving test; if they are permitted to drive and can obtain insurance while going through the Irish licence procedure (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5874/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Irish driver licensing law operates within the framework of EU law.  The principal Irish regulations governing driver licensing are the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 537 of 2006), which have been amended a number of times since first being introduced, in particular in order to take account of Directive 2006/126/EC on licensing of drivers, and subsequent amendments to that directive.

The criteria for recognition of licences from other countries are testing and licensing regimes which meet the requirement of the EU directive on driver licences.  On this basis Ireland has mutual licence recognition and exchange arrangements with other EU Member States, and with a number of other jurisdictions where research and discussion has shown that standards in those jurisdictions meet EU requirements.

Driver licensing regimes in the USA vary between the different States, and not all of the States meet the required standards.  As a result, the USA is not one of those countries with which Ireland has mutual recognition of licences.

In the absence of an exchange agreement, persons taking up Irish residence must begin by passing the theory test, obtaining a learner permit and sitting the driving test.  While this can seem demanding in individual cases where people have a safe driving record in another jurisdiction, the overriding policy concern behind these regulations is that the Irish system must be satisfied that people are properly qualified to drive on our roads.  However, we do already waive the six months waiting rule before sitting a driving test in the case of applicants coming to Ireland with a full in date licence from their own jurisdiction.

I have no plans at present to change this system.