The Government has many initiatives in place, including Build Back Home, an initiative seeking skilled workers to return to Ireland. Skilled overseas workers are being invited back to apply their skills here in Ireland. Engineering, construction and health care, to name but a few, are crying out for crucial skilled workers to take up positions immediately. I have been approached by many overseas representatives of the Donegal Association who have made it clear to me that people would like to return home to Ireland but face some negatives in their decision-making. Most people considering a move look at housing, healthcare, schools, childcare, climate and safety, to name but a few issues. However, they are totally unprepared for the driver licence laws that state if people have been out of the country for ten years or more, a driving test is mandatory. This can be a deal breaker in many cases, especially in counties such as Donegal and the more rural counties in Ireland, where transport infrastructure is not a solution when travelling to and from a workplace. Our tradesmen wishing to return and start a business immediately cannot get to work without their driving licence. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, to make an adjustment to these rules. Surely people who held a driving licence previously should not have to undergo this stressful obstacle, which is having a negative impact on them returning home. Surely a theory test and getting signed off on two or three lessons from a registered instructor would be sufficient. This would allow people to refresh on the rules of the road and the lessons would bring them up to safe practice. I believe this solution would be acceptable to people who wish to return home to Ireland.

I also make the point that tourists who visit our country do not hold a valid Irish licence. They can hire a car and drive freely throughout Ireland for the duration of their time here. I am not in any way suggesting this is wrong. I am just giving the example of the different rules for people visiting and the rule faced by people wishing to return to their homeland. I believe this rule is unfair. Maybe we could have a chat with the Minister about it.