Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
109. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider amending S.I. No. 527/2007 - Road Traffic (Recognition of foreign Driving Licences) Order 2007 to include territories that secured a swap for a UK licence that would allow a driver to continue driving in this State. [5314/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen establishing a driving licence exchange agreement with another country, the relevant authorities in each jurisdiction study and compare the two licensing regimes, so that each side can be satisfied that they are compatible and that drivers are tested to the same standards. On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law. It is important to remember that driver licensing law exists to ensure that people licensed to drive on our roads meet high standards of safety. The standards for testing drivers are set at EU level, and this is why driving licences issued by Member States are mutually recognised.
An EU driving licence is exchangeable for an Irish driving licence, except where the licence issued by the other Member State was itself issued in exchange for a licence from a state that is not a Member State, or a state that Ireland does not have a licence exchange agreement with. Under its own national legislation, a Member State may enter into a driving licence agreement with any third country, but this agreement does not place an onus on another Member State to recognise the licence also.
