Vol. 525 No. 3
357 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who has returned to Ireland with a full American driving licence for a 600 cc motorbike; if he can obtain an equivalent Irish driving licence in view of the fact that he has an unblemished driving record in the States. [25112/00]
Ireland does not have a bilateral agreement with the United States of America for the exchange of driving licences. On taking up Irish residence a person who holds a driving licence issued in the USA must obtain a provisional licence and undergo a driving test in order to obtain an Irish driving licence. A person who obtains a category A provisional driving licence for a motorcycle is restricted to driving a motorcycle with a power output not exceeding 25 kW or a power-weight ratio not exceeding 0.16kW-kg for the duration of the provisional licence and for a period of two years after passing a driving test and being granted a full driving licence.
