There has been much talk in the media in recent years about the impact of foreign motorists driving on Irish roads.

There is, a general, not quite overtly stated antagonism to drivers who "come over ere" and drive around like that own the bloody place. Of course a lot of this is just good, old-fashioned Irish racism but there are a few serious underling issues there too.

The EU is often talked of as a single entity when in fact it is anything but. Citizens of any EU state can drive on Irish roads quite legally without having to sit a test here. In most cases this isn't a problem as standards are higher in most European countries compared to our own, but not all. There is also the issue of driving on the left hand side of the road. This must be a factor in at least some accidents involving foreign drivers. And then there are issues regarding penalty points, vehicle roadworthiness, insurance etc.

Over all though, Motormouth doesn't think foreign drivers are by-and-large any worse than the native variety and in a lot of cases they are a good deal better. If you're not from the EU however it can be tougher to drive legally here.

Ireland has agreements with a number of countries recognising their licences for driving here, namely, Australia, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Japan, Jersey, South Africa, South Korea and Switzerland. You'll notice that Canada and the US are not on that list but there is one glaring omission that I really don't understand.

If you were to pick a country that you would think would most qualify you to drive in Ireland would it be Poland? Lithuania? Greece? I don't think so. You might say Britain but there is another country, where they drive on the left, where it rains a lot, they have lots of green hills and the roads aren't great. New Zealand if you are still guessing.

I raise the case of New Zealand admittedly because I have a vested interest.

I friend of mine who is from New Zealand emigrated here last year with his Irish wife and their two young children. He's an honest sort of chap and has been driving down there without incident for more than 10 years. You would have thought he's just the kind of person that wouldn't have much trouble getting mobile in Ireland.