Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Recognition of Driving Licences. Wednesday, 3 December 1969

Dáil Eireann Debate Vol. 243 No. 2 Page of 39

25.

Mr. Harte:    asked the Minister for Local Government what progress, if any, he has made concerning the recognition of driving licences issued in Great Britain or Northern Ireland; and if it is his intention to give recognition soon.

Minister for Local Government (Mr. Boland):    The answer to the first part of the question is “none” and, as to the second part, I would refer the Deputy to my reply on 23rd October last to a question on this subject.

Mr. Harte:    Do I take it that the Minister is treating this question with complete indifference?

Mr. Boland:    No.

Mr. Harte:    May I ask the Minister what is he doing about it?

Mr. Boland:    If no progress has been made that does not mean that the matter has not been treated with due consideration.

Mr. Harte:    If an Irish national living north of the Border produces a Northern Ireland driving licence, will the [194] Minister instruct the local authorities south of the Border to acknowledge that that is a valid driving licence and issue a licence valid in the south for it?

Mr. Boland:    No.

Mr. Harte:    Why?

Mr. Boland:    Because I think it would be foolish to do so unless we could also obtain recognition of our driving licences.

Mr. Harte:    So the Minister is, in fact, treating these people as British subjects?

Mr. Boland:    No.

Mr. Harte:    The Minister has now reached the stage where he is treating these people as British subjects.

Mr. Boland:    No.

An Ceann Comhairle:    Will Deputy Harte allow questions to proceed?

Mr. Harte:    That is the type of republican the Minister is.

An Ceann Comhairle:    Question No. 26.

Mr. Boland:    I will not agree to the recognition of British driving licences unless they agree to recognise ours.

Mr. Harte:    So the Minister recognises the Border.

Mr. Boland:    No.

Mr. Harte:    Of course, he does. He cannot have it both ways.

Mr. Boland:    I do not want to have it both ways. I do not want it at all and we would not have it but for the Deputy's party.

An Ceann Comhairle:    I have called Question No. 26.

Mr. Harte:    If the Minister were made aware that the British would recognise our licences would he recognise theirs?

Mr. Boland:    Oh, yes. That is the whole point.

Mr. Harte:    It has taken me about two years to get that information.

[195]Mr. Boland:    No, the Deputy gets it every time.

Mr. Harte:    The Minister is embarrassed by his sham republicanism.

Mr. Boland:    The Deputy will get that information again next week if he looks for it.

An Ceann Comhairle:    Question No. 26.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. Harte:    The Minister went to Bundoran only once.

Mr. Boland:    I was in Donegal 21 years ago and I will be there again next week.

Mr. M. O'Leary:    Moses struck the rock.

(Interruptions.)

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