Mayo native steps up driver's licence campaign for returning diaspora

THE Irish-US Driver's License Exchange Campaign Committee is stepping up its efforts to make it easier for Irish people returning home from the US to renew their driving licence.

Mayo native Ciarán Staunton, co-chair of the campaign, has voiced frustration at government inaction after months of meetings, testimony, and promises.

At a meeting in June of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport, TDs and senators from every party voiced support for their ask: let Irish citizens returning from abroad renew Irish licences that had expired more than 10 years ago.

However, the Minister of State for Transport, Seán Canney, has since indicated there are no plans at present to change licence renewal requirements for a particular group of drivers.

The committee has refuted two points they say are being used to justify inaction: that EU law ties the government's hands, and that safety is at risk. Neither holds up.

Mr. Staunton explained: "Overall, we find it nonsensical that Ireland has a driver's licence agreement with not only the EU, but 21 non-EU jurisdictions, including Japan, Korea, and South Africa. As such, people who may have never previously visited Ireland can directly exchange their foreign licence, while Irish emigrants returning from the US can not exchange their licence and those with an expired Irish driver's licence have to start the process from scratch."

As Independent TD Michael Collins told Tánaiste Simon Harris in November, that's 'a slap in the face to Irish citizens returning home'.

The committee is calling on the Tánaiste, the Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien, Minister of State Neale Richmond, and Taoiseach Micheál Martin to act on this or tell the diaspora why they won't.

People and families affected are urged to contact their local TD and the relevant ministers and tell them their stories directly.