Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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489. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if steps are being taken to establish a reciprocal drivers' licence exchange agreement with Turkey, given the licence exchange agreements Turkey has with other EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20406/25]

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

Member States may also make bilateral agreements on licence exchange with non-EU jurisdictions. In reaching a bilateral agreement the most important element is ensuring that the other jurisdiction applies standards for obtaining a licence which are compatible with Ireland's. Where theses standards are not met, no agreement is possible. For Ireland, the task of comparing the two licensing regimes falls to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

Currently, Ireland does not have a licence exchange agreement with Turkey. The Government's priority has been to identify countries that may be a source of professional HGV or bus drivers, given the well documented shortages faced in Ireland and across the EU in these sectors. The Department is also considering the Programme for Government commitments in relation to facilitating further licence exchange with Australia, Canada and the USA. The position of Turkey will be considered alongside these priorities.