Chinese national granted permission to challenge licence policy

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

A Chinese national was granted permission to seek judicial review in the High Court over a policy requiring driving licence applicants to prove their residency entitlement. The proceedings were reported on 16 November 2018.

The man had lived in Ireland for more than 18 years, having originally arrived on a student visa that had since expired. He had held a valid driving licence since 2008, but the National Drivers Licence Service refused his renewal application because he could not prove his residency entitlement.

His counsel said the list of acceptable documents meant applications by people not legally present in the state would be refused, and those without a valid visa would also be excluded.

The proceedings name the NDLS, Road Safety Authority, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Ireland and the Attorney General as respondents. Mr Justice Séamus Noonan granted permission on an ex parte basis and returned the matter to the following month.