National Vehicle and Driver File, Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2026: Second Stage
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-17
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Cathy Bennett (SF), Cavan-Monaghan

As we deal with a largely technical Bill related to various areas of Road Traffic Acts, websites, databases and day-to-day administration relating to driving, I want to touch on something else that is viewed by many as a glaring omission in the delivery of policy and that I would say is an error in policy. For many years, members of the diaspora have been pointing out the administrative burden associated with returning home to Ireland. Given that we are crying out for healthcare professionals and that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is actually advertising in Australia to lure Irish people, including construction workers, home, one could be forgiven for thinking that this could be a moment and an opportunity to be seized to actually progress long-standing recommendations to address the challenges faced by returning Irish immigrants. Unfortunately, for this Government, that does not seem to be the case. The pace of progress in obtaining reciprocal agreements for the recognition and exchange of driving licences between Ireland and other countries and US states has been far too slow.
I commend those who have long campaigned on this and on other diaspora issues, especially Safe Home Ireland and the Irish-US Driver's License Exchange campaign group, the latter of which last year published a report on this very matter. It brought forward proposals to allow for the simplification of the process. These warrant serious consideration. That is why there has been so much frustration at what is reported in the diaspora media as a slap in the face over the last few days.
The crux of the issue lies in respect and prioritisation. On respect, to use the words of one campaigner, "No reason is given, no explanation made to those affected and their families, who have and continue to be impacted emotionally and financially by an unintended consequence of what we believe is just poorly worded legislation." On prioritisation, we see what the Government is capable of when it prioritises a matter. When it prioritised this matter, the programme for Government committed to working on reciprocal arrangements with countries with large diaspora populations. It committed to prioritising such arrangements as would benefit the commercial sector. I welcome the progress made with regard to the commercial sector early this year but my simple ask of the Government is to ascribe equal priority to Irish citizens who wish to return home to Ireland. This is clear-cut. Deputy Canney can either be a Minister of State for whom the diaspora are simply a photo opportunity or a handshake on his St. Patrick's Day jollies or he can be a real friend to our brothers, sisters, sons and daughters who live abroad and who want to come home. He can be a Minister of State who does all he can within his power to help alleviate the administrative burden of returning home if that is their wish. I ask him to commit to making this a priority for his Department and to getting it done.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-17