Driving Licences

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2012

Tuesday, 3 July 2012

Questions (161, 162, 163)

Dara Calleary

Question:

167 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a lack of mutual recognition of driving licences exists between Ireland and the Canadian province of Quebec; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that this lack of mutual recognition is causing many Irish emigrants their jobs in Quebec; his plans to rectify this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31671/12]

Dara Calleary

Question:

168 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the fact that thousands of Irish persons, including 5,000 on the work experience programme, are entering Canada each year, his plans to assist Irish community organisations in Montreal that are campaigning for the Government to secure an agreement with the Quebec provincial authorities to recognise Irish driving licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31673/12]

Dara Calleary

Question:

169 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the efforts to secure recognition of the Irish driving licence in the Canadian province of Quebec; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31675/12]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 to 169, inclusive, together.

Matters relating to the processing of driving licences in Ireland and reciprocal exchange agreements are the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority which falls under the aegis of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

I am aware of the issues relating to driving licences in Quebec and in other provinces across Canada. In particular, the matter was brought to my attention when I visited Canada (Quebec and Ontario) over the St. Patrick's Day period and met with some of the newly arrived young emigrants at the Irish Canadian Immigration Centre in Toronto.

Driving licences in Canada are issued on a provincial rather than federal basis. Therefore, in response to requests from a number of people seeking to exchange their Irish driving licences for a Canadian licence, our Ambassador in Canada contacted all the main provincial authorities to establish details of their driving testing schemes and their willingness to enter into a reciprocal driving licence exchange scheme. To date a number of provinces including Quebec and Ontario have indicated their interest in entering into an agreement with Ireland and my Department has brought this information to the attention of the RSA.

I have also brought the matter to the attention of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and assured him that my Department and the Embassy in Ottawa will continue to work with him to deliver a positive outcome.