Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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283. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his Department's position on the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38169/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which dates from 1968, is the most recent in a series of international road traffic conventions.  Ireland, along with a number of other OECD countries, is not a signatory.

Ireland is a signatory to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic of 1949, which preceded the Vienna Convention.  For the purposes of international road traffic, the 1949 Convention remains in force between any countries which signed it and have not both signed the Vienna Convention.  For instance, the fact that Irish drivers may drive abroad on a visitor basis for up to a year on their Irish licences, and that visitors in Ireland may drive for up to a year on their national licences, is derived from the 1949 Convention.

My Department has limited resources to address a wide array of road traffic matters.  The constantly evolving nature of road traffic legislation is reflected in the regular introduction of road traffic bills and regulations. In this context, examination of the Vienna Convention with a view to possible signature is not currently a priority.