I am not aware of the comments of the district justice but I know that if somebody is banned from driving in this jurisdiction the licence is withdrawn and, therefore, he or she cannot use it anywhere else. However, I am aware that a person can go to Northern Ireland and, by virtue of simply using an address there and doing a test, get a licence and drive there, which is obviously causing difficulties.
However, a proposed European Community Directive will come into effect in 1996 under which a member of the European Community will be able to hold a licence in only one member state and the member state may withdraw a licence — or refuse to grant a licence — if someone has had a licence withdrawn in another country or is the subject of restrictions in another country. The directive will improve the situation as far as the problems which the Deputy highlighted are concerned.
In addition, a working group at European level is looking at this matter — and I know there are special difficulties because of the border with Northern Ireland — but, from the point of view of this jurisdiction, we withdraw the licence when someone has been convicted and, therefore, nobody could use it in Northern Ireland. I accept that it is relatively easy to get another licence in Northern Ireland, which obviously happens in some cases. Ireland is participating in the working group which is examining the directive and I hope that, in time, the difficulties will be removed.