Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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99. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20558/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Irish driver licensing operates within a framework of EU law, which sets out the driver licensing legislation with which all Member States must comply. The format of licences, categories of vehicles and the standards to be met in driving tests to qualify for a licence are set at EU level. Therefore, all EU-issued licences are recognised in Member States.

Ireland may make bilateral licence exchange agreements with non-EU jurisdictions. Such agreements can be made only when the authorities in both jurisdictions have studied and compared the licensing regimes and each side is satisfied that they are compatible.

Ireland has a driving licence exchange agreement with Australia, and an Australian licence may be exchanged for an Irish licence. However, as per that agreement, an Australian licence issued in exchange for a licence from a third country that Ireland does not have an exchange agreement with cannot be exchanged for an Irish licence, as the licensing regime of the third country has not been examined to ensure that it reaches the required standards for issuing an Irish licence.

This also applies to recognition of EU licences. When a third country licence is exchanged for a Member State licence, such a licence is not recognised here for exchange if Ireland does not have an exchange agreement with the third country.

A person with a full but non-exchangeable licence is required to go through the normal driver learning process, but they can avail of the shorter Essential Driver Training of 6 lessons instead of the usual 12, and do not have to be a learner for the usual minimum of 6 months before taking a driving test.