Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 March 2022
181. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport if qualified Ukraine heavy goods vehicle drivers can take-up roles working as drivers for transport companies in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13700/22]
View answerIrish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law, which sets out the driver licensing legislation with which all Member States must comply. The format of driving licences, categories of vehicles, and the standards to be met in driving tests to qualify for a licence, are all set at EU level. Therefore, all EU issued licences are mutually recognised in Member States.
Member states may make bilateral agreements on licence exchange with non-EU jurisdictions. Reaching a driving licence exchange agreement with another country is a comprehensive process carried out between the statutory licensing authorities in each state. To ensure the safety of road users, such agreements can be made only when the relevant authorities in each jurisdiction have studied and compared the two licensing regimes and are satisfied that they are comparable. If standards and procedures are not comparable, the process does not continue. On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
The RSA has been in discussions with the Ukrainian authorities with a view to considering such an agreement. However, this process is currently paused.
To drive heavy goods vehicles professionally in Ireland, an EU certificate of professional competence is also required.
