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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Apr 1991

Vol. 407 No. 4

Written Answers. - Driving Licence Regulations.

Dermot Ahern

Question:

88 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the anomalies in the driver licensing regulations which prevent a person (details supplied) in County Louth from driving motor cycles of over 125 cc engines and yet allowed him to drive a car, a minibus or an articulated lorry without waiting for two years to elapse while he gains experience in driving a motorcycle of under 125 cc engine; and if he has any plans to change the regulations to alleviate this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Dermot Ahern

Question:

89 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the anomalies in the licensing of road traffic driver regulations in that people who have been driving abroad in certain countries, such as the United States, for years on large motorcycles of 125 cc engine will not immediately qualify to legally drive such motorcycles in this country; and if he has any plans to change the regulations to take this into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together.

Motor cycles with an engine capacity not exceeding 125 cubic centimetres, motor cycles of 125 cubic centimetres and upwards, cars, minibuses, and articulated trucks are in separate driver licensing categories and a person must pass a separate driving test to qualify for a licence to drive vehicles in each category. Furthermore, a person seeking a provisional licence to drive a minibus must already hold a licence to drive a car; a person seeking a provisional licence to drive an articulated truck must already hold a licence to drive a drawing vehicle, and a person seeking a provisional licence to drive a motor cycle of over 125 cc engine capacity must already have held a licence to drive a lower powered cycle for at least two years.

These are all requirements made in the interests of road safety. I see no anomalies in these requirements and I do not propose to make any changes in the driver licensing regulations which make them mandatory.

A person visiting this country from abroad may drive for up to 12 months on the basis of a licence issued in another country and licences issued by member states of the European Community and Japan, may be exchanged for Irish licences. I am reviewing the position in relation to other countries.
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