Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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165. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if recognition of a full clean driving licence issued by the authorities in Mauritius qualifies for recognition here and throughout the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44658/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Irish driver licensing law operates within the framework of EU driver licensing law.  For this reason, there is mutual recognition of driving licences across all EU Member States.  

EU Member States may also make bilateral agreements with non-EU states for recognition of driving licences for the purposes of exchange.  Where such bilateral agreements exist, they apply only to the Member State in question.  If a Member State has a mutual recognition arrangement with a non-EU state, other Member States are therefore not obliged to enter into similar arrangements with that state.

Ireland has bilateral arrangements for mutual recognition and exchange of driving licences with a number of jurisdictions outside the EU.  Mauritius is not one of those jurisdictions.

Under international law, a holder of a licence which is not recognised for exchange may drive in Ireland on their national licence for up to a year, as a visitor. However, if the holder of the licence proposes to become resident in Ireland for a period longer than 12 months then they are required to apply for an Irish licence.