Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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460. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person (details supplied) with a current full clean driving licence from Nova Scotia, but also with a previous lapsed full clean licence from Newfoundland, will be able to avail of bilateral agreements with Canada that would allow them to renew their licence here without having to go through the licence application process as if the person was a learner driver, in view of their 20 plus years experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38344/16]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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461. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if bilateral agreements with Canada on the issue of driving licences that are in place in respect of Newfoundland, Manitoba and Ontario will be extended to cover Nova Scotia, British Columbia and the remaining parts of Canada; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38346/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 461 together.

The operation of the National Driver Licensing service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), and I cannot comment on individual cases.

I can however explain the legal position.  Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law.  On this basis, we have driver licence exchange relationships with all other EU member states.  In the case of non-EU countries, we may reach bilateral agreements on mutual exchange of driving licences.  These are not a straightforward matter, and it is not enough for it to be convenient or desirable to both sides.  The relevant authorities on each side must make detailed comparisons of the two licensing regimes, so that each may be satisfied that the two regimes are compatible.  On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the RSA.

Driver licensing in Canada operates at provincial rather than national level.  This means reaching agreements with each individual province.  The RSA has been working on this for some time, and agreements are now in place with Ontario, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

In the circumstances described by the Deputy, as we do not have a licence exchange arrangement with Nova Scotia, the person would not be able to exchange their licence here.  If they were to renew their Newfoundland & Labrador licence, however, it would be exchangeable in Ireland.