asked the Minister for Local Government if he will now exempt from driving tests under the Road Traffic Act, 1961 all applicants who held driving licences in Great Britain and Northern Ireland within a period of five years from the date of application and who are now resident in the Republic of Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Driving Tests.
10.
The grant of such exemption could be considered only in the light of international agreement on the subject. It is unlikely that such agreement will be reached in the near future.
While fully appreciating his reply, the Minister must also appreciate——
Has the Deputy a question to put?
I have. The Minister must appreciate that people living along the Border find that, by marrying someone on the opposite side of the Border, they have to do a driving test in many cases.
A driving test?
I do not expect Deputy Carty to know anything about marriage. Hardship is caused to people along the Border where someone moves from one side of it to the other and consequently, although that person may have passed a driving test in Northern Ireland, must take a place in the queue in Donegal for a similar driving test here.
That is the trouble. I can deal with it only on one side.
The marriage or the driving licence?
Could the Minister not make reciprocal arrangements with the Government of Northern Ireland in this respect? Has the Minister tried?
Yes.
Has the Minister made an application to the Stormont Government to see if a reciprocal agreement can be reached?
That is a separate question. Will Deputy Harte please allow Questions to continue?
This is the second occasion on which I have had this question on the Order Paper. I had one down 12 months ago. The matter is creating hardship to people in my constituency and, as their representative, it is my duty to raise it in public. Because of the laziness of the Minister for Local Government and of his predecessor, nothing was done about the matter in the past 12 months.
Deputy Harte will restrain himself and resume his seat.
Deputy Blaney did nothing about the matter 12 months ago. That is no reason for me to let the present Minister for Local Government off the hook now.
That is a separate question.
I am concerned about the inconvenience caused to people.