Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2017
625. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to allow for a holder of a US driving licence to automatically avail of an Irish licence (details supplied); if there are protocols in place currently with regard to recognition of such licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39305/17]
View answerIrish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law, which sets common standards of obtaining a licence for all Member States. As a consequence, all EU licences are mutually exchangeable.
In the case of non-EU jurisdictions we may reach bilateral agreements on the exchange of licences. These cannot be made simply on the basis that they are convenient. They are based on the appropriate authorities on each side conducting a detailed comparison of the two licensing regimes, so that each side may be satisfied that they are compatible. On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
The RSA has examined the possibility of an exchange relationship for US licences. However, as driver licensing within the US operates at state rather than federal level, there are 50 different systems, with sometimes widely varying standards. Not only would it be necessary to reach 50 separate agreements, but each agreement would have to take into account the exchange arrangements existing between that state and the other 49. The RSA concluded that this would not be feasible.
In the absence of an exchange relationship, we have no option but to ask people to go through the necessary steps to obtain an Irish licence.
I appreciate that this creates a burden in terms of time and cost for people who have, in many cases, a long record of safe driving. I believe that we can relieve the burden to a considerable extent.
The biggest difficulty, in both time and cost, is with the mandatory 12 Essential Driver Training (EDT) lessons. My Department is currently working on proposals from the RSA for a 'Short EDT' for drivers with full licences from non-exchange countries. It is my intention that this system will be in place from the beginning of 2018.
