AQW 31722/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 22/09/2025
Answered On Date: 25/09/2025
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail the arrangements in place, between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, to ensure driver disqualifications are shared to apply in both jurisdictions.

Answer:

Arrangements are in place which allow for driving disqualifications for certain road traffic behaviours to be shared by the licensing authorities in each jurisdiction, subject to specified conditions.

Where a person is disqualified by order of a Court in one jurisdiction, and that person is either normally resident in the other jurisdiction or holds a driving licence issued by that other jurisdiction, the licensing authority in the state where the offence occurred may notify the licensing authority in the other jurisdiction. Having received such a notification, that other licensing authority may impose the disqualification if all relevant conditions are met.

Where a driver is normally resident in the south, holds a driving licence issued by the southern authorities, and is disqualified by a Court in the south, the Driver and Vehicle Agency would not be notified of such a disqualification.

Regardless of mutual recognition arrangements, if a driver has been disqualified from driving by their own licensing authority, they no longer hold an entitlement to drive in any jurisdiction.