Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

105. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the procedures in place in relation to recognition of driving licences issued in other jurisdictions to enable such licence holders to drive in this State; if he is satisfied that the present systems are comprehensive and robust enough; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66316/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that Irish driver licensing operates within a framework of EU law – the driver licensing legislation with which all Member States must comply – and the standards for testing drivers are set at EU level. Driver licensing laws are intended to ensure drivers on our roads meet high safety standards.

A person resident in Ireland must have an Irish or EU driving licence to drive here. It is possible to drive in Ireland on a foreign licence under the Geneva Convention but this only applies to visitors, not residents.

A driving licence may be exchanged where Ireland has a reciprocal licence exchange agreement with the other jurisdiction. A person with a full but non-exchangeable licence must go through the normal learning to drive process to obtain an Irish licence, but can avail of shorter Essential Driver Training of 6 lessons, instead of 12, and does not have to be a learner for the usual minimum of 6 months before taking a driving test.

Ireland may make bilateral licence exchange agreements with non-EU jurisdictions. This is a technical, road safety-based process and reaching an exchange agreement is not a matter of political will. The technical assessment is an independent process that requires the agreement of the other jurisdiction and agreements are made only when both licensing authorities have compared the licensing regimes and are satisfied that they are compatible. For Ireland, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

The core principle in reaching an exchange agreement is the continued safety of Irish road users. The most important element is an exchange agreement is that the other jurisdiction applies standards for testing drivers that are compatible with our own. Where these standards are not met, no agreement is possible, no matter how desirable an agreement with that jurisdiction may be. Ireland’s road toll has been rising in recent years and it is imperative, for the safety of all Irish road users, that people who are awarded Irish driving licences have been tested to the same standard as Irish drivers.

In considering licence exchange agreements, Ireland has to date given priority to countries that may be a source of professional drivers, in light of the sectoral shortages across the EU. However, the principle of ensuring the safety of Irish road users is still paramount in reaching such agreements.

The Programme for Government is committed to seeking licence exchange agreements with Canada, Australia and the USA. Ireland already has agreements with Australia and seven of the Canadian provinces and is examining an agreement with an eighth province.

In line with the Programme for Government, I have initiated efforts to consider driving licence agreements with individual US states.