Irish driving examiners are penalised by the system

An open letter to the chairman of the Road Safety Authority, Gay Byrne.

PERHAPS you are not aware of the simple requirements for the job of driving examiner for which SGS Ireland were recruiting last November.

They are:

1. A full clean driving licence for a minimum of five years.

2. Excellent interpersonal skills.

Am I to understand from these simple requirements that any person from another country or state who lives in Ireland, and who holds a full driving licence recognised by the Government, was entitled to be considered for an interview?

I am also confused as to whether any driving experience in Ireland was necessary for this job — and that includes Irish applicants.

At the oral interview stage, SGS refused applicants with endorsements or penalty points attached to the their licences.

A full licence from an EU or European Economic Area (EEA) member state is a valid licence and can be exchanged for a full Irish licence. Licences from Australia, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Japan, Jersey, South Africa, South Korea and Switzerland are also recognised as being valid by the Government and can be exchanged for a full Irish licence, but penalty points and endorsements acquired in the EU or EEA, or in the states already mentioned, do not transfer over to the new Irish licence because they have been issued in the courts of another jurisdiction.

Surely it follows for the purpose of this job that those who acquired a driving licence through the Irish system are being discriminated against if they have penalty points or endorsements attached to their licence, and yet they would be far more familiar with driving in Ireland.

Is political correctness now more important than road safety?

I must remind you now that these states have major differences in road law and in their driver testing regimes compared to that of Ireland.

Some of the most appalling driving accidents on our roads in recent years have been attributed to the inexperience and driving attitudes of people from parts of eastern Europe.

There is a difference in attitude to driving, and health and safety, between Ireland and other parts of Europe.

Through education and courses in the workplace we have raised the standards in health and safety, so is it morally correct, considering the terrible suffering and loss of life caused to families and communities by road accidents, that the requirements for this job are of such a basic standard?

As an experienced driver, I think it is wrong to attempt to lower the driving test standards so as to reduce the waiting time for driving tests by a specific date.

Mr Byrne, I await with interest your response to my concerns.

Denis Deely

Newtowndaly

Loughrea

Co Galway