Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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197. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the exchange of a Canadian driving licence with an Irish driving licence; the way a person will achieve this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17003/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Under EU law, Ireland has automatic relations of exchange of driving licences with other EU Member States.  In the case of non-EU States we may reach bilateral arrangements on exchange.

Reaching bilateral agreements is not a straight-forward process.  It involves detailed comparison of the two licensing regimes by the relevant authorities in both jurisdictions, so that both can be satisfied the regimes are compatible.  On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

For some time now, the RSA has been engaging with the authorities in Canada with a view to reaching agreements on exchange of driving licences.  As driver licensing in Canada operates at provincial rather than national level, this means negotiating ten separate agreements.  We now have an agreement in operation with Ontario.  An agreement with Manitoba has been signed, and the RSA and the Manitoba authorities are working to bring it into operation as soon as possible.  The RSA is continuing to work with the authorities in the other Canadian provinces with a view to reaching agreements.

People applying for a driving licence, including an exchange of driving licence, do so through the National Driver Licensing Service.  Full details are readily available in the public domain and may be consulted at .