Vol. 423 No. 1
307 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment if his Department has any plans to introduce regulations which will allow for the exchange of USA driving licences for an Irish licence; if he agrees that the current situation presents a major problem for people returning to Ireland from the USA; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
318 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for the Environment the reason full driving licences are available to Japanese and European nationals coming to live in Ireland and yet the same facility is not available to United States citizens when they retire to Ireland; if he is prepared to change the legislation to allow this situation to be reversed.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 318 together. Exchange of licences is provided for at present only in the case of those issued by EC Member States and Japan. I am keeping the question of extending the exchange facility to other states under review having regard to the driver testing system operated in such states and the willingness of such states to accept Irish licences in exchange.
