Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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109. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider amending S.I. No. 527/2007 - Road Traffic (Recognition of foreign Driving Licences) Order 2007 to include territories that secured a swap for a UK licence that would allow a driver to continue driving in this State. [5314/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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When establishing a driving licence exchange agreement with another country, the relevant authorities in each jurisdiction study and compare the two licensing regimes, so that each side can be satisfied that they are compatible and that drivers are tested to the same standards. On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law.  It is important to remember that driver licensing law exists to ensure that people licensed to drive on our roads meet high standards of safety. The standards for testing drivers are set at EU level, and this is why driving licences issued by Member States are mutually recognised.

An EU driving licence is exchangeable for an Irish driving licence, except where the licence issued by the other Member State was itself issued in exchange for a licence from a state that is not a Member State, or a state that Ireland does not have a licence exchange agreement with. Under its own national legislation, a Member State may enter into a driving licence agreement with any third country, but this agreement does not place an onus on another Member State to recognise the licence also.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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110. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a driver licence application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5365/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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My Department does not have sight of the licensing process system. I am therefore passing the Deputy's question to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply.  If a reply has not been received within 10 working days, the Deputy should contact my office.