Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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1172. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an Irish driving licence is recognised by the authorities in each Canadian province and territory; the status of negotiations for reciprocal recognition between the authorities in each Canadian jurisdiction and this jurisdiction in view of the high insurance cost to Irish licence holders where their licences are not so recognised; if such negotiations will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34358/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has driver licence exchange relationships with a number of jurisdictions outside the EU.  The basis for any such agreement is a detailed comparison of the two licensing regimes to ensure that they are compatible.  This work is undertaken, on the Irish side, by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

Ideally, we prefer to conclude such agreements at a national level so that there is a consistent approach across the whole country. However, Canada issues licences at provincial level. The Irish Embassy in Ottawa therefore engaged with the provincial authorities in Canada, and several provinces were identified where progress might be made. It was decided to prioritise Ontario as it is now home to a large community of Irish people.

I gather from the RSA that a considerable amount of work has now been done both by them and by the authorities in Ontario, although they have yet to conclude what is a very detailed project of study and comparison of the two licensing systems. In the meantime, the RSA has also engaged, with the help of the Irish Embassy, in a similar process with the provinces of Alberta, Newfoundland, Manitoba and Labrador. Although engagement has only relatively recently started with Alberta, the authorities there have allowed a concession by accepting Irish licences and granting holders an exemption against waiting time within their own graduated driving licence (GDL) system.