Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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237. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made on the mutual recognition of driving licences between Canada and Ireland; if he will detail any developments regarding Ontario; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8404/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is engaging with provincial authorities in Canada - who are the driver licensing authorities in their respective jurisdictions - with a view to reaching mutual recognition and driver licence exchange agreements.

The RSA has advised me that it is satisfied following discussions with Ontario, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador, that agreement can be reached with those provinces on the exchange of driver licences. The next step will be to conclude a formal agreement with each province (a type of Memorandum of Understanding). When this is done, I will sign the necessary regulations to give effect to the arrangements.

It was decided from the beginning to prioritise Ontario, due to the large number of Irish residents there. I expect it to be one of the first provinces with which we formalise an agreement.