Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has made any progress regarding the mutual recognition of heavy goods vehicle driving licences with Argentina. [29970/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law and standards for driver testing are set at EU level. This ensures that those licensed to drive on our roads meet the required standards of safety.

Ireland may make bilateral agreements on licence exchange with non-EU jurisdictions. These agreements can be made only when the relevant authorities in each jurisdiction are satisfied that the two licensing regimes are compatible. On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

The RSA’s examination of the Argentinian driving test and licensing system found that it does not currently meet the requirements for on-road tests set out in Directive 2006/126/EU on driving licences. Accordingly, the RSA has not recommended a licence exchange agreement with Argentina at this time.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that an agreement on licence exchange has recently been reached with Georgia and those arrangements are now in place.