Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2015
608. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the treaty arrangements with the UK for the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications; and the timeline for implementing this treaty. [2666/15]
View answerSince 2010, under the terms of an EU Convention, Ireland has operated a bilateral agreement with the UK for the Mutual Recognition of Driver Disqualifications. The UK decided, in 2014, to withdraw from a number of EU Conventions, including the Mutual Recognition of Driver Disqualifications, and, therefore, since 1 December 2014, the terms of the agreement ceased to apply. My Department held a number of meeting with the UK authorities during 2014 to conclude a replacement agreement. Discussions are at an advanced stage and only some technical legal issues remain to be resolved.
As it will be considered as a formal international treaty, Government approval for the agreement will be required before final conclusion. Primary legislation will also be necessary to give legal effect to its conditions. I propose to include the necessary provisions in the next Road Traffic Bill, which I expect to bring to Government in the coming weeks.
