I propose to take Questions Nos. 470 and 471 together.
Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law. In the case of non-EU jurisdictions, Ireland may make bilateral agreements on licence exchange. This is not a straightforward matter, there is a process to be followed and it does take some time. Canadian licences are issued by the government of the province or territory in which the driver is residing. As a result, specific regulations relating to driving licences varies from province to province, though overall they are quite similar.
Licence exchange agreements can be made only when the relevant authorities in each jurisdiction have studied and compared the two licensing regimes, so that each side can be satisfied that they are compatible. On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
We are currently finalising an exchange agreements with Alberta and Saskatchewan. This will bring to 6 the number of agreements in place with Canada. Work will continue to bring in agreements with the remaining provinces.