Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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592. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on amending current driver licensing regulations for holders of foreign licences, in particular holders of full United States of America licences who, on being resident here for more than 12 months, are required to sit and pass theory and practical driving examinations in addition to taking 12 driving lessons before they can be issued with a full Irish licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10252/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU legislation, which sets driver licensing standards for Member States.  As such, we have arrangements for reciprocal exchange of driving licences with all other Member States.

In the case of non-EU states, we can establish bilateral agreements on mutual recognition of driving licences.  Reaching these agreements is not a simple process, and involves detailed consideration of the two licensing regimes by the licensing authorities in each jurisdiction, in order for both sides to be sure that the two systems are compatible.

Where we do not have an EU or bilateral basis for recognition of foreign driving qualifications, people taking up residence in Ireland are by definition treated as learners, and required to undergo the same lessons and tests as other learners.  They are, however, exempt from the normal requirement to spend six months as a learner before taking the test.

In the case of the US, driver licensing operates at State rather than Federal level.  There is therefore a wide variety of licensing systems with widely varying standards, and broad based mutual recognition is not possible.

The system of driver licensing exists to ensure a set standard of driving on our roads.  Where we do not have mutual recognition of driver licensing, it is therefore appropriate that we should ask people to go through the learning process.

I realise that some of the people concerned may have very good track records driving in the US.  However, the rules and circumstances are different here, and the requirement to take lessons and the opportunity to get practice before qualifying to drive here can only be beneficial from a road safety point of view.