Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2004
193 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Transport the position in relation to Lithuanian residents who are living here, have Lithuanian driving licences but cannot obtain insurance and need to change their licences as a matter of urgency; if they can be renewed for Irish driving licences; if not, if this can be rectified as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15831/04]
View answerA person who holds a driving licence issued by a member state of the European Union or the European Economic Area is permitted to drive in Ireland for so long as that licence remains valid. Driving licences issued by the competent licensing authority of Lithuania are, in accordance with existing regulatory provisions, recognised here for driver licensing purposes. Sample driving licences and information regarding security features is not yet to hand in respect of the accession countries.
As a temporary measure and not withstanding the general principle that persons may request to have an EU licence exchanged for an Irish licence, exchange cannot be granted until the required information is received from the licensing authorities of the countries concerned. In the event of the licence having expired, licensing authorities have been requested to contact the authorities in the member state that issued the licence in order to confirm that the licence, which the person wishes to have renewed, is genuine.
