Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2016
483. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review driving licences regulations for a person (details supplied) who wishes to keep both licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8300/16]
View answerIrish driver licensing legislation operates within a framework of EU law.
Under EU requirements, a person receives a driving licence from a Member State if they are 'normally resident' in that Member State. If a person is not normally resident in Ireland they are not eligible for an Irish driving licence. In cases where a person divides their time between Ireland and a country with which Ireland has an agreement on mutual exchange of driving licences, they should have only one licence.
In the case to which the Deputy refers, if the person's place of ordinary residence is Ireland they should have an Irish licence and can drive in Canada on that licence on a visitor basis. If their place of normal residence is Canada then they should retain their Canadian licence, and would be able to drive on that licence in Ireland on a visitor basis for up to a year. It is not possible to hold both an Irish and a Canadian driving licence at the same time.
