Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Driver Licences

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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819. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the driving licence transfer arrangements that exist between this State and individual Canadian provinces; his plans to expand this to cover Alberta where a fully licensed Irish driver staying more than 12 months wishes to continue driving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29501/14]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Road Safety Authority (RSA), which takes responsibility for the negotiation on mutual recognition of driving licences with other jurisdictions, has been engaged for some time with the Canadian provinces with the assistance of the Irish Embassy in Ottawa. 

It was decided to prioritise negotiations with Ontario due to the large number of Irish living there.  I understand from the RSA that agreements have been reached on virtually all details with Ontario, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador.  Difficulties that arose in relation to some aspects of the agreement have now been resolved and I expect that agreement with these provinces will be signed off shortly.

Negotiations have also commenced with the province of Alberta.

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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820. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will list the driving licence transfer arrangements that exist between this State and other non-EU countries; if any transfer arrangements are yet to be agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29502/14]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Under EU law, Ireland and other EU Member States have mutual driver licensing exchange arrangements under which a person holding a driving licence from another EU State, who is resident in this country, may exchange the licence for an Irish one without the requirement to undergo driving testing processes. 

Similar arrangements exist, for licence exchanges, in relation to a number of non-EU States with which Ireland has concluded bilateral exchange agreements.  We currently have such arrangements with the following countries:

- Australia

- Gibraltar

- Iceland

- Isle of Man

- Japan

- Jersey

- Liechtenstein

- Norway

- New Zealand

- Republic of China (Taiwan)

- South Africa

- South Korea

- Switzerland

At present, negotiations are under way with the Canadian provinces with a view to reaching agreement on driver licence exchange. 

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