I propose to take Questions Nos. 688 to 690, inclusive, together.
The system of driver licensing in Ireland operates within the framework of EU law. As a result, we have driver licence exchange relationships with other EU Member States. We also have driver licence exchange relationships with a number of other jurisdictions around the world. We establish these relationships only after detailed study and comparison of the licensing systems leads us, and the authorities in the other jurisdiction concerned, to the conclusion that their systems and ours have compatible standards.
Unfortunately it has not been possible to reach agreement on driver licence exchanges with some countries with which Ireland has close historic ties. This is because in some of these countries licences are issued not according to a single national system but at provincial or state level, with each province or state setting its own driver licensing criteria.
I have however received a number of representations in relation to the exchange of driver licences with Canada and am having the matter re-examined to determine if a change of approach would be possible.
