asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that members of the Army who hold Army certificates testifying to their competency to drive motor vehicles have to undergo the driving test conducted by his Department before they can procure a civilian driving licence under the Road Traffic Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Drivers.
63.
Yes. There are no exceptions whatever from the rule that, to qualify for a driving licence, the applicant must have held one in the preceding five years or have passed the driving test under the Road Traffic Acts.
It is very appropriate that the Minister for Defence is answering for the Minister for Local Government in this matter because my question relates to Army personnel. Would the Minister not be prepared to have another look at this situation which is a matter of some concern to Army personnel. They feel very sore about this particular provision. A member of the Defence Forces undergoes tests and is fully qualified in every way before he receives an Army certificate and after years of driving experience he has to submit himself to the civilian test in order to obtain an ordinary driving licence.
I understand that the present Minister for Local Government, when he was a Deputy in Opposition, raised this matter and thought that something should be done about it. Now that Deputy Tully has the opportunity of doing something about it, would he not be prepared to look at the law and see if an Army driving certificate could be accepted by the Department of Local Government as a necessary qualification for a civilian driving licence.
I will ask the Minister for Local Government to consider the matter.