Disqualified drivers targeted in International agreement

A deal to keep disqualified drivers off the roads was confirmed by British, Irish and Northern Ireland Ministers at a meeting in Belfast.

The agreement - the first practical step of its kind in Europe - means that UK drivers disqualified for an offence in Ireland will no longer escape that punishment when they return home. Likewise, any disqualification earned by Irish drivers while in the UK will be recognised and enforced when they return to Ireland.

Northern Ireland Environment Minister, Sammy Wilson, welcomed the progress made in reaching the agreement. He said:

"I believe this will deal with the worst offenders who think that they can disregard the law without consequence when driving outside their own state."

Jim Fitzpatrick, British Road Safety Minister, said: "If a UK driver commits a serious offence like dangerous driving while in Ireland their ban should still apply when they return home.

"This pioneering agreement will make our roads safer by ensuring disqualified drivers are not able to escape their punishment and so keep dangerous drivers off our roads."

Noel Dempsey, the Irish Minister for Transport said: "This deal on the mutual recognition of disqualified drivers across all three jurisdictions is good news for road users. All three Governments are working hard to save lives on our roads and this deal will be a very welcome addition to that work. Now disqualified drivers will be kept off the roads in Ireland and the UK and that makes real road safety sense. I look forward to continuing cooperation of this kind with my colleagues in the UK."

The agreement is the first to be drawn up under the terms of the 1998 European Convention on driving disqualifications and should see mutual recognition of disqualifications between the three administrations in place by Spring 2009.

The feasibility of mutual recognition of penalty points between the UK and Ireland has also been investigated and the three administrations are now committed to working towards penalty point recognition in the future. This will require primary legislation.