Since this Government was formed, I do not think the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has come in for one session of Questions on Promised Legislation. One can only suspect that he is reluctant to answer questions without a prepared script. Since the decision by the Supreme Court over 18 months ago whereby asylum seekers are allowed to work, I have continuously raised with the Minister the need to extend eligibility to asylum seekers to apply for a driving licence. He has promised that the matter is under consideration and that his Department is working with the Minister for Justice and Equality to deliver it. In the 18 months since the Supreme Court decision, no progress has been made. This is at a time when we should be welcoming these people into our country and ensuring that they are facilitated by every means to integrate with society. What better way to do this than by affording people the right to drive and go to work? Will the Taoiseach take a personal interest in this and talk to the Ministers for Transport, Tourism and Sport and Justice and Equality in order to ensure that this legislation receives priority so that people who want to make a contribution to society and who are being prevented from doing so on foot of where they live will be able to apply for driving licences?

It is now the law that an asylum seeker who has been in the country for more than nine months can work, which is positive. I am pleased that we were able to make that change. My recollection is that much of the law relating to driving licences is linked to EU directives.

Other EU countries are facilitating it.

There may be an issue around residency but in principle, if we are allowing somebody to work, we should allow him or her to drive to work or drive as part of his or her job so I will look into the matter and obtain a note on it.

That concludes Questions on Promised Legislation. Eight Deputies were not reached and will be given priority tomorrow.